In 2020, more than 7,000 people either going blind or in pain and in need of an operation availed of the cross-Border scheme. On 31 December, this scheme ended, leaving thousands in the Republic who require urgent surgery in the North stranded. Three cross-Border health initiatives were in place prior to 31 December. Cancer patients travelled from Donegal to Derry. Children requiring heart surgery went from Belfast to Dublin. The third group involved cataract patients and others. Legislation was correctly put in place for the survival of the first two initiatives. Why was no legislation put in place to continue the cross-Border scheme for the thousands of people going blind, who are in need of cataract surgery or those in need of hip or knee surgery? The Fine Gael Senator in west Cork said I was scaremongering when I raised concerns that we would not have a cross-Border scheme in place by 1 January. He said there would be. Is there a new cross-Border scheme in place?

There are many people like me ringing the cross-Border section in Kilkenny and being told it is no longer in place.

I thank the Deputy. The cross-Border scheme derived from European law, the cross-border directive. Northern Ireland is no longer in the European Union, unfortunately; that was beyond our control. Therefore, the cross-Border directive no longer applies. People may still travel to other EU countries under the cross-border directive.

The Minister for Health has approval from the Cabinet to introduce an administrative scheme, not on a legislative basis, that would be analogous to what was there before, thus allowing people, particularly in Border areas, to continue to avail of healthcare in Northern Ireland and we will reimburse their costs. Particularly at this time, with Covid-19 levels so high, elective procedures have been paused for good reason.