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Hospital Waiting Lists

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Ceisteanna (131)

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

131. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the way the funding will be disbursed to address waiting lists such as the €250 million allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50839/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government has provided an additional allocation of €250 million in budget 2022, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.

The additional €250 million is being provided from Covid-19 funding and will be used to fund additional activity in the public and private sectors, including expanding access for GPs to diagnostics. It will also be used to fund continuing reforms in the Health Service. These reforms will be set out in a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan, which is currently being finalised. The exact allocation this funding will be considered as part of the development of the National Service Plan.

At the beginning of October, I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan was drawn up in consultation between my Department, the Health Service Executive and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. Using the €210 million provided for improving access to care in 2121 it is focused on immediately addressing the increase in acute hospital waiting lists arising from the impact of Covid-19 and the cyberattack earlier this year.

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