Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:50 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the total public inpatient waiting list in December 1995; and the latest available figures for 1996. [7963/96]
Written Answers. - Patient Waiting Lists.
, Limerick East): The total on the public waiting list in December 1995 was 28,004. This represents a reduction of 12,126 or 30 per cent on the 40,130 on the public waiting list in June 1993. The number of adults waiting over 12 months and children waiting over six months has been reduced from 14,624 on 30 June 1993 to 10,841 on 31 December 1995, a reduction of almost 26 per cent. During the period of the waiting list initiative, a total of 60,376 persons have benefited from the special earmarked funding as follows: 1993 — 18,768 in-patients; 1994 — 16,669 in-patients; 1995 — 12,861 in-patients and 12,078 Out-Patients.
The March 1996 waiting list figures are at present being collated by my Department and I will write to the Deputy with the information requested as soon as it is available. A sum of £7 million has been allocated for 1996 in respect of this year's waiting list initiative.