Outpatient waiting lists grew by almost 100,000 during the pandemic, according to the head of the HSE.

The Oireachtas Health Committee is due to hear from Paul Reid on Wednesday at a meeting on the implementation of Sláintecare.

The pandemic had a huge impact on waiting lists.

The outpatient list grew by 98,000 - with day patient waiting lists also growing by 14,000.

Mr Reid will tell the Oireachtas committee the 2021 Waiting List Action Plan made some inroads, with a 21% reduction in the number of people waiting more than 18 months for an outpatient appointment.

Secretary-General of the Department of Health, Robert Watt, will say a new plan for reducing waiting lists will go to Cabinet next week.

He is expected to point out structural issues in the health service, with a new regional framework for the health service to be ready by the end of the year.

While the two health officials are at the committee to talk about Sláintecare, no doubt TDs and Senators will have other questions.

Allegations of fake recruitment targets and financial mismanagement in the HSE will be raised.

This is something Mr Reid has disputed, calling them "factually incorrect".

He also told Newstalk on Monday that while the health executive may need to make a 'technical financial adjustment' for 2021, there is no 'black hole' in its finances.

While Mr Watt is sure to face questions about the more than €80,000 pay rise he got to become the top civil servant at the Department of Health.

Additional reporting: Jack Quann