Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 April 2023
55. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the use of the National Treatment Purchase Fund to alleviate the waiting list for assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18614/23]
View answerFurther to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 1355 of 21 March 2023 and No. 1512 of 18 April 2023, I wish to clarify that the statutory remit of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is in respect of the provision of hospital treatment and does not extend to arranging or funding any non-hospital services, including Assessments of Need.
With regard to alleviating the waiting list for Assessments of Need, budget 2023 included €80 million allocated to various HSE primary and community care-related activity under the area of Waiting Lists. Of this funding, €11.7 million has been allocated to address backlogs in disability services in relation to the Assessments of Need.
