Health Minister to unveil plan to tackle lengthy waiting lists

New figures presented at the Oireachtas health committee indicate that well over one million people are on waiting lists

Figures show 225,000 people are waiting for community services, including mental health and occupational therapy. File photo

The Health Minister has defended the Sláintecare reform programme as "making huge progress" despite spiralling waiting lists.

Stephen Donnelly also told the Oireachtas health committee that current waiting lists are not acceptable and that he will, on Friday, launch a plan to tackle these. Some €350m was set aside in last year's Budget for this purpose.