The National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, plays a very important role in addressing public waiting lists. That is more important now than ever. It is also crucial that acute hospitals in the public system co-operate with the NTPF as they go about their business, in the interest of patient safety. My information suggests that University Hospital Kerry has not been co-operating with the NTPF recently, resulting in significant delays for patients who are on waiting lists for scope procedures. How is this happening? Can he assure me that those patients will get the scope procedures that they need done? They are important diagnostic procedures. How can we ensure that this does not happen again? I ask for an explanation as to why this happened in the first place.

The NTPF has had a considerable increase in its budget. I believe its budget is now well over €100 million a year. It is tasked with buying healthcare and health services for patients, from both private and public hospitals, using additional capacity where it is available. I strongly encourage any public hospital and also consultants to make use of this budget and service. If a person is waiting for a scan, scope or investigation, the NTPF should be used because it means that he or she will get the test, appointment, investigation or operation her or she needs much sooner.

I do not know the details in respect of University Hospital Kerry. However, it would be a shame if that resource was not being used for the benefit of the people of Kerry, because that is what the money is for.