Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 2

Written Answers. - Ophthalmic Service.

John Browne

Question:

177 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time it takes from date of application for an applicant to be called for eye test under the July 1999 public scheme in each of the eight health board areas. [13525/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The ophthalmic scheme introduced in 1999 entitles adult medical card holders and their adult dependants to avail of services from an optometrist of their choice who is contracted to participate in the scheme. Applications under the scheme are authorised in advance by the health boards and I am advised that the length of time from the receipt of an application to the issue of an authorisation for each health board is as follows:

Eastern Regional Health Authority	2-3 weeks
Midland Health Board	1-6 weeks
Mid-Western Health Board	11 weeks
North-Eastern Health Board	30 days
North-Western Health Board	3-6 weeks
South-Eastern Health Board	8-9 weeks
Southern Health Board	1 week
Western Health Board	5 weeks

As it was intended that the applications under this scheme would be processed within one month I am contacting those health boards which are failing to adhere to this time frame and asking them to take the necessary steps to ensure that applications are processed within the one month time frame.