I want to raise again the fact that the people of south Tipperary have had no ophthalmology service for almost 18 months now. There is a huge waiting list, heading for over 3,000, of children and adults waiting for urgent eye treatment. Hundreds of children have never been seen. Hundreds of people with glaucoma have either never been seen or are awaiting follow-up treatment and some may be facing blindness. The HSE failed to fill the vacant consultant post which arose from a retirement on age grounds even though it was aware for a number of years that the retirement was due. This issue has been raised here on numerous occasions, without success. I ask the Tánaiste to personally intervene in this situation to ensure that the service is returned to south Tipperary urgently.

I thank Deputy Healy for raising the matter of ophthalmology in south Tipperary. I acknowledge it is an issue he has raised in this House previously. I will speak directly to the Minister for Health and ask that she examines the matter with the HSE and reverts to the Deputy.