I ask all Members on whom I will be calling to remember that others are coming behind them.

On page 59 of the programme for Government, the Government promised to update the national eye care plan. The HSE has confirmed, however, that at the end of 2018 in the south west approximately 5,000 people were waiting for ophthalmology treatment, some 3,126 of whom had been waiting more than 12 months. In a report on ophthalmology released today it is stated that it is taking up to 60 months for people to receive surgery after referral in Cork South-West. The waiting lists would be much longer were it not for Deputy Danny Healy-Rae and me arranging for a 35th bus full of patients to travel to Belfast for cataract operations this weekend. The HSE's own figures predict that there could still be at least 3,500 people waiting for eye treatment in the south-west area. This is totally unacceptable. Will the Government provide an extra theatre for cataract surgery to reduce waiting times?

We have the question.

Many clinics in the UK are simply a clean room which is fully equipped and staffed. That is how simply this crisis can be resolved.

I ask Deputy Michael Collins to have consideration.

There is no promised legislation on this issue but the Deputy will be aware that a new surgery was opened in Tipperary this year which has had a significant impact on improving waiting times. There are still, however, too many people waiting for cataract surgeries. A number of initiatives are being developed in the Cork-Kerry area, community healthcare organisation, CHO, area 4, in particular. I am engaging with the ophthalmology team, the clinicians, the practitioners, and the hospital group to see if capacity can be further improved in this area. It is an issue of which we are well aware and we intend to take further action to address these waiting lists.