I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no adult patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2000 daycases will be managed through this process and the NTPF has indicated that the initiative has commenced and patients will start to receive their appointments before Easter. The focus of this initiative will be those lists with large numbers of long-waiting patients including ENT, Ophthalmology, General Surgery, Dental, Urology and Vascular surgery.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE and the NTPF to finalise these plans.
In relation to your specific query on paediatric ENT appointments in Crumlin and Tallaght hospitals, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.