Almost 700 thousand people are waiting for treatment in public hospitals

The longest waiting lists are in Galway University Hospital, University Hospital Waterford and the Mater Hospital in Dublin

New figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund also show half a million people are awaiting their first appointment with a hospital consultant.

Social Democrats TD Roisin Shortall says waiting lists are the biggest issue for her constituents and the Taoiseach needs to step in.

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