With a little co-operation, we might get through all those who are offering.

A Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to increase access to safe and timely care close to patients' homes. Recent figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, show that, at the end of April, there were 2,281 people waiting for outpatient appointments at Mayo University Hospital. These are people who were referred for necessary care and treatment by their GPs. The length of the waiting list is leading to increased stress, anxiety, further medical complications and increased illness among those patients. Clearly, the Government is failing in its commitment to provide timely access to care. Another related issue is the fact that patients who choose to go north of the Border for treatment are having it paid for by the HSE. Patients in my constituency of Mayo are availing of treatment across the Border. When will the Government address the delays relating to the NTPF? When will we see full and proper roll-out of that fund? Is serious action being taken to address the delays being experienced by patients languishing on waiting lists?

As the Deputy will be aware, there is a budget again for the NTPF. I indicated previously that hundreds of appointments would be made for patients so that they can benefit from treatment. Notice of those appointments has begun to issue. Over 300 patients have received appointments. The process in this regard will continue and accelerate in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, as the Deputy will be aware, other initiatives are being taken by the Minister for Health. He has access to the largest budget ever in the history of the State. Of course, there is increasing demand on health services but it is important to note that almost 1.69 million patients received inpatient or day-case treatment in our hospitals in 2016, an increase of almost 40,000 on the previous year.