The National Treatment Purchase Fund has been tasked with devising a plan to cut waiting list times.

Health Minister Simon Harris said said he wants to see a plan to cut endoscopy waiting lists.

Almost 20,000 people are currently waiting on the procedure which checks a person’s digestive tract.

Minister Harris said that there needs to be a plan from the NTPF to reduce this number.

“We clearly need to bring back the NTPF in a real sense if we’re to drive down those waiting lists,” he said.

“What we don’t need now in the Irish health system is a big debate about ideology and how best to clear the waiting lists. What we need is an effective tool, so that patients today waiting on procedures and waiting too long today, can see action.

“I believe, and the Government believes, that the NTPF is a very useful tool in that regard.”