Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Mary Butler

324. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a diabetes nurse specialist will be appointed to University Hospital Waterford; the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36970/19]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Mary Butler

325. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when University Hospital Waterford will be receiving more diabetes nurse specialists as per the recommendations of the National Survey of Diabetes Care Delivery in Acute Hospitals 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36971/19]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Mary Butler

326. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a diabetes dietitian will be appointed at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36972/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mary Butler

354. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for pain management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37106/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mary Butler

363. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case a person (details supplied) who needs surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37127/19]

Architectural Heritage

Mary Butler

701. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the planning implications, limitations and requirements in relation to a building structure which is not a protected structure under the record of protected structures, but in which the structure is contained in the records of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage only; the planning regulations in the case of such a structure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37610/19]

Courts Service Properties

Mary Butler

522. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to carry out remedial works at Carlow courthouse and in particular on the railings there in view of the fact that the building is of historic importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35441/19]

Visa Applications

Mary Butler

602. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to change the process of applying for extension of volunteer visas for non-EU citizens beyond the current two years; his further plans and processes to allow volunteer visa holders from non-EU countries to apply for citizenship without having to be resident here for five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35499/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mary Butler

943. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to be called for an appointment for knee replacement surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35442/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mary Butler

949. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if approval will be given to allow a person (details supplied) who is wheelchair bound to avail of a bed or place locally; if so, when funding will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35472/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mary Butler

953. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an operation at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35477/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mary Butler

963. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if approval will be given to allow a person (details supplied) with an intellectual disability return to support and respite services locally; if so, when the funding will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35510/19]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

Mary Butler

1238. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time up to 31 August 2019 for persons that have been approved for the fair deal scheme to access a nursing home by county in tabular form; his views on whether the wait is too long and is having a negative effect on discharges from level 4 acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36321/19]

Home Care Packages Data

Mary Butler

1239. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons up to 31 August 2019 waiting for a home care support package by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36322/19]

Home Care Packages Expenditure

Mary Butler

1240. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the most cost-effective way to deliver care for older persons is a home care support package at an average cost of €165 weekly; his further views on whether the current waiting lists are not facilitating a timely delivery of home care supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36323/19]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Mary Butler

1243. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the turnaround times in the primary care reimbursement service specifically through the cross-Border treatment scheme; his views on the adequacy of the service being delivered; his plans to reduce the waiting times for persons that have applied and been approved; the way in which he plans to deal with waiting times which can be up to six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36342/19]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Mary Butler

1246. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive reimbursement through the cross-border treatment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36349/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mary Butler

1298. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36551/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mary Butler

1323. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36631/19]

LEADER Programmes Funding

Mary Butler

1745. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when an application for further tranche of LEADER funds will be allocated to a community (details supplied); the timeframe from application for further funding to receipt of funds; if there is a standard process across all local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36174/19]

Illness Benefit Applications

Mary Butler

1864. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the average wait time for applicants to receive illness benefit; the length of time applications are taking to process; if the process is handled in a timely and efficient manner; her plans to streamline the process further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36111/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Mary Butler

489. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific criteria that determines whether a child in primary school with type 1 diabetes receives an allocation of a special needs assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32654/19]

Garda Data

Mary Butler

949. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda Síochána stations; the number of gardaí in each station in County Waterford at 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34350/19]

Garda Deployment

Mary Butler

950. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new recruits who have been allocated to Garda stations in County Waterford in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34352/19]

Palliative Care Services Provision

Mary Butler

1085. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when the new palliative care unit at University Hospital Waterford will be operational; when it will take its first patients; if staff will be utilised from existing staffing levels; if funding will be allocated for additional staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31582/19]

Long Stay Residential Units

Mary Butler

1124. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when the new residential care centre at St. Patrick’s Hospital, Waterford will be operational; when the facility will take in its first patients; if staff will be utilised from existing staffing levels; if funding will be allocated for additional staff being recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31782/19]

Tattooing and Body Piercing Regulation

Mary Butler

1350. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to regulate the piercing and tattoo sector; the status of guidelines on the sector; the age of consent to such procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32626/19]

Tobacco Control Measures

Mary Butler

1513. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the section 38 and 39 residential, mental health and disability residential centres that are not currently implementing the HSE tobacco free campus policy by CHO in tabular form. [33254/19]

Care of the Elderly Funding

Mary Butler

1514. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the original budget allocation for older persons services in 2018 by CHO; the outturn for same in 2018; and the budget allocation for 2019. [33255/19]

Care of the Elderly Funding

Mary Butler

1515. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the reason for the disparities between CHO areas in the outsourcing of the provision of home support hours for older persons. [33256/19]

Care of the Elderly Funding

Mary Butler

1516. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of private companies used by the HSE for the provision of home support hours for older persons; the funding provided to each in 2018 and 2019; and the number of home support hours delivered in 2018 and to be delivered in 2019. [33257/19]

Health Services Reform

Mary Butler

1780. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when University Hospital Waterford will cease to be part of the South/South West hospital group if the restructuring of health services into six new regional health areas occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34043/19]

Hospital Services

Mary Butler

1781. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if out-of-hours cardiac care patients will still be transferred to Cork University Hospital after the establishment of six new regional health areas or instead; if they will be transferred out of hours to St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, as part of area C, while the second cath lab is under construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34044/19]

Health Services Reform

Mary Butler

1782. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the definition of stakeholders in each of the regional health areas that will be invited to contribute to the design of the services for their new regions; if this will include members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34045/19]

Health Services Reform

Mary Butler

1783. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to ensure that communities will play a greater role in the delivery of health in the six new regional health areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34046/19]

Health Services Reform

Mary Butler

1784. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the way in which he will determine budgets based on local population needs; if this will include equality of access for all healthcare irrespective of postcode addresses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34047/19]

Health Services Reform

Mary Butler

1785. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if the restructuring of health services into six new regional health areas will result in increased staffing levels in all acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34048/19]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Mary Butler

1786. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to deal with the recruitment and retention crisis being experienced across the health sector if the restructuring of health services into six new regional health areas occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34049/19]

Care of the Elderly

Mary Butler

1787. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of step-down facilities and respite care for the older population to prevent late discharges in acute hospitals, of which there were 599 in June 2019, if the restructuring of health services into six new regional health areas occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34050/19]

Hospitals Capital Programme

Mary Butler

1788. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if all agreed capital projects including the second cath lab and the new mortuary at University Hospital Waterford will proceed as planned on time and on budget if the restructuring of health services into six new regional health areas occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34051/19]

Health Services Reform

Mary Butler

1789. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if a targeted reduction in the long waiting lists at University Hospital Waterford is expected for orthopaedics, ophthalmology and urology if the restructuring of health services into six new regional health areas occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34052/19]

Health Services Reform

Mary Butler

1790. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if the budget will be made available to facilitate the restructuring of health services into six new regional health areas; if it will be fair and equitable to all six areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34053/19]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Mary Butler

2683. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of the community employment programme for the past five years to the end of the second quarter of 2019, by budgeted versus actual costs under the headings "participants' wages", "supervisory wages", "materials costs" and "training costs" in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31835/19]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Mary Butler

2684. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of community employment participants, supervisors and assistant supervisors on the community employment programme at the end of June 2019, by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31836/19]

State Pension (Contributory) Data

Mary Butler

2723. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 813 of 9 July 2019, the percentage of the 32,307 pensioners who received an increase (details supplied) in their payments in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32782/19]

Housing Estates

Mary Butler

2878. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding and grants available to assist in the ongoing maintenance of small long established housing developments of 30 to 50 homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32340/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Mary Butler

2900. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason funding for adaptation grants for council-owned housing stock for Waterford City and County Council has been cut from €300,000 to €200,000; his views on whether this reduction will exasperate an already extensive waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32981/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Mary Butler

2901. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Waterford City and County Council for the mobility aids housing grant scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32982/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Mary Butler

2902. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Waterford City and County Council for the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32983/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Mary Butler

2903. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Waterford City and County Council for the housing aid for older people grant in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32984/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Mary Butler

2904. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each of the 31 local authorities for the mobility aids grant scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33064/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Mary Butler

2905. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each of the 31 local authorities for the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33065/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Mary Butler

2906. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each of the 31 local authorities for the housing aid for older people grant in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33066/19]

Vaccination Programme

Mary Butler

447. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of a national pertussis whooping cough vaccination programme for pregnant women in the health service. [30471/19]

Infectious Disease Epidemics

Mary Butler

448. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if a case and incident management system for health protection to support more efficient and robust reporting and management of infectious disease outbreaks has been developed. [30472/19]

Infectious Diseases

Mary Butler

449. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken in 2019 to enhance the control of tuberculosis. [30473/19]

Public Health Policy

Mary Butler

450. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the development of a new operating model for public health. [30474/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mary Butler

249. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30160/19]

Tobacco Control Measures

Mary Butler

335. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of initial tobacco sales to minors test purchase inspections carried out at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29082/19]

Tobacco Control Measures

Mary Butler

336. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of test purchases carried out under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29083/19]

Sunbeds Regulation

Mary Butler

337. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of mystery shopper inspections carried out under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29084/19]

Sunbeds Regulation

Mary Butler

338. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of establishments receiving a planned inspection under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29085/19]

Food Safety Standards Inspections

Mary Butler

339. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of official food control planned inspections and surveillance of food businesses at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29086/19]

Tobacco Control Measures

Mary Butler

340. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of inspections of e-cigarette and refill container manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers under SI No. 271 of 2016 - European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29087/19]

Diabetes Strategy

Mary Butler

341. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who completed a structured patient education programme for diabetes at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29088/19]

Maternity Services

Mary Butler

342. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the percentage of babies breastfed exclusively and not exclusively at the first public health nurse visit at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29089/19]

Maternity Services

Mary Butler

343. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the percentage of babies breastfed exclusively at first public health nurse visit at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29090/19]

Maternity Services

Mary Butler

344. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the percentage of babies breastfed exclusively and not exclusively at the three-month public health nurse visit at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29091/19]

Maternity Services

Mary Butler

345. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the percentage of babies breastfed exclusively at the three-month public health nurse visit at the end of June 2019 or the latest date available. [29092/19]

Home Care Packages Data

Mary Butler

346. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of an intensive homecare package; and the percentage of same with a key worker assigned. [29093/19]

Home Care Packages Data

Mary Butler

347. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours provided from intensive homecare packages to date in 2019. [29094/19]

Health Care Infrastructure Provision

Mary Butler

357. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the status of the replacement and refurbishment of 90 community nursing units announced on 26 January 2016; the funding allocated to each project in 2019; and the date on which each of the projects will be complete and operational. [29164/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mary Butler

364. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for a surgical procedure; and if the procedure will be expedited. [29191/19]

Care of the Elderly

Mary Butler

472. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of places being provided to older persons across 300 day care centres per week. [29766/19]

Care of the Elderly

Mary Butler

473. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of long stay and short stay public residential care beds in use. [29767/19]

Care of the Elderly

Mary Butler

474. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons supported through transitional care funding in their discharge from acute hospitals during the first six months of 2019. [29768/19]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

Mary Butler

475. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons supported by the nursing homes support scheme at the end of June 2019. [29769/19]

Hospitals Discharges

Mary Butler

476. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the development and implementation of a discharge-to-assess protocol for persons who require home support to leave hospital. [29770/19]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Mary Butler

477. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the reconfiguration of nursing home support offices. [29771/19]

Palliative Care Services

Mary Butler

478. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of additional specialist palliative care inpatient beds provided to date in 2019; and the location of same. [29772/19]

Palliative Care Services

Mary Butler

479. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if the new palliative care inpatient units in counties Waterford, Mayo and Wicklow will be opened in 2019. [29773/19]

LEADER Programmes Data

Mary Butler

728. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent on projects in County Carlow under the LEADER programme; the number of projects allocated funding; the number still pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29270/19]

Pension Provisions

Mary Butler

812. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the concerns raised by former ESB workers in relation to pension issues (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29864/19]

State Pension (Contributory)

Mary Butler

813. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of pensioners contacted to date in relation to pension changes applied in 2012; the number that received arrears; the number that have seen their pensions increase; the number that have seen no increase in their payments; when she expects all pensioners will have been contacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29865/19]

Local Authority Staff Data

Mary Butler

852. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of staff changes in each local authority in each of the years 2008 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [29819/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Mary Butler

127. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all new apprenticeship programmes developed since 2017 will receive the same allowances for apprentices attending college as apprenticeships developed prior to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28680/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Mary Butler

128. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeship programmes developed since 2017; the number of apprentices that participated and completed these new apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28681/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Mary Butler

129. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled per apprenticeship programme developed since 2017, in tabular form. [28682/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Mary Butler

130. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to seek equality of allowances for all apprenticeships in Budget 2020; the estimated cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28683/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mary Butler

68. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the action he is taking to reduce waiting times for outpatient appointments in Waterford University Hospital in which the number of persons waiting over 18 months stood at 11,412 at the end of May 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27744/19]

DEIS Data

Mary Butler

291. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of schools that have DEIS status in rural areas compared to those with DEIS status in the five major cities and larger towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28186/19]

DEIS Eligibility

Mary Butler

292. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that determines whether a school can receive DEIS band status; if location is one of the main criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28187/19]

DEIS Eligibility

Mary Butler

293. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the next round of DEIS bands will be allocated to national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28188/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Staff

Mary Butler

432. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a replacement staff member will be appointed for the position of speech and language therapist in the west Waterford network 1 area while the existing speech and language therapist is on maternity leave in order that there is no gap in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27791/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mary Butler

453. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with a respiratory consultant at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27998/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mary Butler

457. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an initial appointment for assessment at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28029/19]

Health Services Reports

Mary Butler

489. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health when the national review under way of cardiac services will conclude; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28171/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mary Butler

490. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine the extensive outpatient waiting list at University Hospital Waterford in relation to ophthalmological services; his views on whether the waiting lists are too long; and if his attention has been drawn to the negative impact it has on older persons waiting for treatment. [28172/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mary Butler

491. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine the extensive outpatient waiting list at University Hospital Waterford in relation to orthopaedic services; his views on whether the waiting lists are too long; if his attention has been drawn to the negative impact it has on older persons waiting for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28173/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mary Butler

492. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine the extensive outpatient waiting list at University Hospital Waterford in relation to urologist services; his views on whether the waiting lists are too long; if his attention has been drawn to the negative impact it has on older persons waiting for treatment; his further plans to examine the fact that of the 2,757 persons waiting in the hospital 967 are waiting in excess of 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28174/19]