Mr. Aaron Mullaniff:

I can succinctly answer, if that is okay. The ECLO programme currently has six eye clinic liaison officers based at CHI Temple Street, Crumlin, the Mater hospital, Cork University Hospital, the eye and ear hospital and University Hospital Waterford. Those areas were targeted because they had the biggest waiting lists. The ECLO programme has to date supported 4,000 patients and families at the point of diagnosis. Going back to an earlier stat, individuals who are fortunate to meet an eye clinic liaison officer are the ones being actively supported in the community. That stat is about 90%. For the individuals who are unfortunate and do not encounter an ECLO - for example in the west, such as in Galway, Sligo and Limerick - my understanding is there is a risk to those patients that they may be left wondering because the referral that would normally happen as part of the care programme they have in place is not taking place. It has been the best value for money initiative that Vision Ireland, in partnership with the acute hospitals division, has partnered on and invested in over the past three or four years.