671. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the reason dermatology services at Letterkenny University Hospital and Sligo University Hospital have not been included as priority areas of focus in the national waiting list action plan, given the high proportion of patients waiting over 18 months, per the National Treatment Purchase Fund, for dermatology services in both hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17967/24]

It is accepted that many patients still must wait too long for hospital appointments and treatments.

As part of the multi-annual approach to reducing waiting lists, and just as importantly the length of time that patients are waiting, I published the 2024 Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) on 27th March. Total funding of €360 million has been provided for the WLAP this year which sets out 19 Actions across three themes: Delivering Capacity, Reforming Scheduled Care and Enabling Scheduled Care Reform.

The WLAP approach, initiated in 2021, encompasses a two-pronged approach of short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times. The 2024 WLAP builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.