Vol. 553 No. 2
483 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason there is currently a waiting time of over 15 months for eye tests in the Northern Area Health Board area, as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and, in the interests of this person's future health, he will request the health board to take measures to address this excessive waiting time. [13178/02]
The provision of ophthalmic services to meet the needs of local communities within its functional area is a matter for the relevant health board or the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In the case referred to by the Deputy, this responsibility rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In the circumstances, my Department has asked the chief executive officer of the authority to reply direct to the Deputy, both on the general question of waiting times and on the specific question of the individual referred to by the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
484 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of hospital waiting lists by speciality and by hospital; the number of adults currently waiting over 12 months for treatment by speciality and by hospital; and the number of children waiting over six months by speciality and by hospital. [13179/02]
The hospital in-patient waiting times and the numbers on waiting lists as at 31 December 2001, the latest date for which national figures are available, in the format collected by my Department, are being communicated separately to the Deputy.
