Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for highlighting two important areas. With regard to speech and language therapy, I am pleased that in this year's budget, we provided funding for 100 additional therapy posts across the country. That was a big ask of the Minister, Deputy Finian McGrath. Deputy Murphy-O'Mahony also highlighted the need for these 100 additional posts, which I acknowledge. I am informed by the HSE that it expects all of those posts to be filled by the end of the year. That will be one of the most significant increases in many years. As I said in discussion with Deputy Donnelly earlier, I do not believe that this, in itself, is enough. We are going to need to build on it in the future and we also need to look at how we deliver the model of care. The pilot speech and language therapy programme in schools is an exciting model. This has been done in the UK for a number of years and it has resulted in significant progress in respect of waiting times. That is the role I would like this programme to fulfil.

With regard to scoliosis, I can provide the Deputy and the committee with an update in writing on our progress. Responsibility lies with the children's hospital group, Children's Health Ireland. There has been extraordinary focus on this area. Additional staff have been provided and there was a significant increase in the number of operations performed last year compared to the previous year.

I need to be honest; we have a number of complex cases in which a number of different medical issues above and beyond scoliosis are at play. In 2016 we carried out 224 procedures in this area, whereas last year we carried out 418, so I am satisfied that there is a massive focus on this area. Of course, we need to continue improving. Perhaps Mr. Reid would like to add to that.