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For Written Answer on : 05/11/2024
Question Number(s): 1050,1051 Question Reference(s): 44100/24, 44101/24
Department: Health
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
* To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given in 2025 to the provision of a national follow-up eyecare scheme for children aged between 8-12 years under the €420 million of funding allocated to the waiting list action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– David Stanton T.D.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 5 November, 2024.
* To ask the Minister for Health if there will be provision for an increase to the fee payable to contractors for standard eye examinations in 2025 under the community ophthalmic services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– David Stanton T.D.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 5 November, 2024.
REPLY
The Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS) is a national fee-per-item scheme which was introduced in 1979. Under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians.
The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2013 (SI 274 of 2013) sets the fees for optometrists and dispensing opticians under the Community Optometric Services, Community Spectacle Dispensing Services and Health Amendment Act Card Schemes.
While there was no dedicated funding allocated in Budget 2025 for increasing the fee payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the COSS, work with stakeholders is still ongoing in this regard.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides optical services free of charge to pre-school children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate service for treatment. In such circumstances, these services will continue to be provided until the child has reached the age of 16.
The National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology, published in 2017, developed a model of care detailing how the realignment of eye services from an acute hospital setting to the community would be undertaken. Included in the Programme is transferring the care of children aged 8+ years to the care of local private optometrists.
This transfer of care was not funded in Budget 2025, however, approximately €8.4 million was invested in 2024 to address waiting lists for Primary Care Services, including optical services. For 2025, this funding has been secured for continued investment for initiatives aimed at reducing the length of time people are waiting for primary care services.
This ongoing funding will provide an opportunity to drive innovative solutions built on the learnings from previous successful Waiting List Action Plan initiatives to address the increasing level of demand for primary care services.
