Question from Deputy Mattie McGrath - PQ 4737-26

To ask the Minister for Health considering the ongoing difficulties recruiting a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary if children in south Tipperary will be given access to a voucher/reimbursement scheme to allow them to access eye appointments and glasses privately to avoid long-term damage to their eyes (There has been no consultant ophthalmologist in South Tipperary since August 2024. Recruitment attempts have been unsuccessful with no applications received in the last recruitment drive. Children would normally be able to receive free glasses once they are seeing publicly but now if they are seen privately, they have to pay for their glasses. Children must be given access to free glasses under the scheme they would normally receive free glasses once a need has been established. Children and families can not be left at huge financial disadvantage because of this failure to recruit. There is no reason why children who obtain appointments privately can not be given their prescriptions as usual to obtain their free glasses without having to fork out hundreds for glasses); if not, the reason the HSE is being permitted to continue failing children in south Tipperary with regard to their eye care; and if she will make a statement on the matter.