Almost 2,500 adults & children hoping to see a consultant at Ennis General or University Hospital Limerick were waiting 18 months or more at the end of June.
The latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund showed that the number of patients on awaiting appointments at both hospitals fell for the third consecutive month.
A total of 25,893 adults were waiting for inpatient and outpatient appointments at UHL or Ennis General in June.
The figure represents a drop of 14% from the over 30,000 adults recorded in May.
The latest report from the NTPF also shows a significant reduction in the number patients waiting 18 months or more to see a consultant at both facilities.
At Dooradoyle, 2,316 adults were waiting this length of time, in addition to 183 children.
In Ennis meanwhile, 8 adults and 2 children were waiting a year and a half or more for outpatient appointments, while the longest any member of the public waited for an inpatient appointment was between six and twelve months.
The majority of those waiting an extended period at UHL, were seeking dermatology or ear, nose and throat services.
At Ennis General at total of 807 patients were waiting for Cardiology appointments, 6 of whom were waiting longer than 18 months.
