I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together.
Screening in Primary Schools is carried out by the School Health Team, made up of Public Health Doctors and Public Health Nurses. School vision screening is one of a range of services carried out by the School Health Team, specifically by Public Health Nurses. As their salaries are not split and coded to specific activities, it is not possible to identify the cost of vision screening separately from other activities. For similar reasons it is not possible to track the cost of every visit by a child to an ophthalmologist. Referrals arising out of the vision screening service in primary schools would not be regarded as unnecessary. The HSE is currently considering various proposals for vision screening to make it as efficient and cost effective as possible.