Kerry and Cork have the fewest people per population waiting for cataract procedures in the country.
This was revealed following a parliamentary question from Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín, who had asked the Minister for Health for the number of people waiting for cataract procedures in each county.
Deputy Tóibín sought the number of inpatient day case people waiting for a cataract procedure by county of residence.
Kerry's total of 30 is the third lowest in the Republic, with only Leitrim and Longford having fewer people waiting.
When county population is taken into account, Kerry and Cork have the fewest people per population waiting for cataract procedures.
1 in every 4,900 in Kerry need an appointment, 1 in every 3,200 in Cork need one, while the next nearest is in Kildare, which has nearly three times Kerry's demand.
In recent years, Independent deputies Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, along with Cork TD Michael Collins, organised transport for people in the two counties to travel to Northern Ireland to get cataract operations.
Currently, the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme, which is similar to the Cross Border Directive, reimburses patients the cost of these operations.
It will conclude at the end of 2021.
