Vol. 449 No. 7
102 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a nine months' waiting list for sight testing under the Western Health Board sight testing scheme for pensioners; and his views on whether this is satisfactory in view of the commitment to provide sight testing services to pensioners. [4330/95]
Limerick East): The provision of optical services for eligible persons in the Western Health Board area is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board.
The Western Health Board currently has a system in operation which gives priority to applicants with special needs such as persons with certain medical conditions, and every effort is made to ensure that urgent cases are processed without delay. There is no waiting list for children requiring glasses.
My Department is aware of the Western Health Board's concern regarding the sight testing scheme at present. As part of the determination of the Western Health Board's 1995 expenditure level I have included £13,000 to allow the board provide additional services under the sight testing scheme in 1995.
