The programme for Government clearly has a line committing to tackle waiting lists. However, as we all know, waiting lists are not declining although there may be small progress in some areas, mainly because of this side of the House's insistence on the national treatment purchase fund being allocated extra money. I will give another example today of what is happening, in relation to a lady for whom I am trying to make representations. She is ten years suffering from gall stones. She has tried to progress the matter over the last three years, and recently was given an appointment for Portiuncula hospital, but this week was subsequently issued an appointment for an ultrasound for April 2019. This is totally unacceptable and it beggars belief that three years on she is still being told that she must wait a further six months for a simple ultrasound. This woman is in chronic pain and desperately needs to have the matter progressed. This is happening over and over again. There is a total failure in the health system. In a budget of €15 billion why is this type of thing happening? This woman is in desperate pain and what is happening is totally unacceptable.

I am very sorry to hear about the long wait being suffered by the Deputy's constituent. It is not possible for me to comment on individual cases, I do not have access to individual patient information, nor should I, however more generally we are making a lot of progress in reducing waiting times for people waiting for operations and procedures in our hospitals. They have been falling consistently for about a year and the number of people waiting more than three months for an operation or procedure is now slightly lower than when this Government came to office. I will give some small examples. The number of people waiting more than three months for a cataract operation last July was nearly 8,000 and is now down to 4,000.

That is no thanks to the Government.

The number of people waiting on hip and knee replacements last summer was 2,400 and is now 1,717. The number waiting for tests, such as angiograms, which was 1,940 waiting for more than three months last July is now down to 920. There will always be many people waiting less than three months, such as four, six or 12 weeks, however those waiting more than three months for a procedure or operation is now consistently falling which is very welcome.