Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raised the issue because, as I am sure the Minister understands, a child's therapy is interrupted for a period that results in the setting back of the services available to that child. His or her quality of life is affected because one cannot repeat that phase of a child's life. It is gone.

Scoliosis is an issue that I raised initially. Given the severity of scoliosis, the concerns of parents of the children affected and the discomfort experienced by children with scoliosis, is there a system to prioritise these children for treatment? Can we be sure that the system works?

In terms of the national treatment purchase scheme, is it possible to ascertain the nature of the cases referred for treatment in Northern Ireland, the UK or wherever? Is it possible to ascertain the precise type of condition referred? Are patients referred through the private sector in terms of the scheme? Is it possible to do so? I presume that can be done. Are there facilities that provide the same services lying idle in this country due to the scheme? My information is that there are. If we have the facilities then we should not let them lie idle.

I am glad to see that a new regime of HPV vaccination has commenced. Obviously it will be more effective than previously for a whole lot of reasons. I believe there are two series of the new vaccine. One is a series 7 and the other is a series 9, which is being utilised. Series 7 is the one that is receiving attention at the moment. All children are referred for the series 7 vaccine as opposed to series 9 which, for all I know, is a better vaccine. I would like an explanation on this.

Is it possible to conduct a forensic examination at all levels of the number of agency staff that have been employed in the public health service? Is it also possible to examine whether the money might be better spent in having permanent or temporary rolling staff?