Kerry cataract waiting lists
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae complains about long waits for cataract operations for elderly people in County Kerry and presses the Government to act. The Taoiseach says the issue is debilitating, but waiting times are needed for appropriate operations and the Minister for Health will review the Kerry list.
I call Deputy Healy-Rae and ask him to remember that Deputy Durkan needs time to ask his question.
Comment on this
I have to raise again the serious problem of elderly people in County Kerry waiting for cataract operations. I have raised this many times previously and, indeed, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae has raised it as well. It is just not good enough. We have five Ministers for health and we have a raft of HSE managers, yet many elderly people will not be able to see this Christmas-----
Comment on this
Just one second. They have to wait for a year and a half to two years for an operation that takes little over an hour. It is very unfair to leave people blind in the latter days of their lives for so long. We have five Ministers for health. If they are not able to deal with the problem - I have it raised many times before - they will have to pull out because they cannot give people a simple operation. What will they do about it? Will this be left-----
Comment on this
The Deputy has to consider that I cannot overrule the Order of Business, even for the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach has five seconds.
Comment on this
It can be very debilitating for an elderly person who is unable to read or watch a television because of cataracts. They take time, though, to be appropriate for an operation. I will have the Minister for Health look at the waiting list in Kerry and advise the Deputy of what the position might be.