Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not know of the case of Elin who is awaiting an MRI scan. When I was appointed one of the first places I went was to Crumlin where I met the scoliosis team. This covers the situation for both Sophie and Elin. The hospital at Crumlin needs another MRI machine and the staff to operate it. The waiting list at Crumlin for urgent MRI scans under general anaesthetic for children is four years. For non-urgent scans I believe it is seven years. That basically means we have no such service. I am working to put in place as quickly as I can temporary measures to ensure we can carry out paediatric MRI scans under general anaesthetic, which is a rather specialised thing. I have spoken to the team in Crumlin about exactly what is needed because nobody could stand over the present situation. It is just not fair. We are failing these children and failing their parents. It is just wrong.

Children with scoliosis are waiting for far too long. Progress has been made and another consultant has been hired. I will meet representatives of the scoliosis network soon. I have been in contact with some of the advocates there. I assure the Deputy that it is a priority for me as it is for us all and was in the last health committee. What is going on is indefensible and we need to move on it.

The Deputy asked if part of hiring those consultants is sorting out new entrant pay inequality for the post-2012 consultants. Yes, it is. I spoke very strongly in support of it in opposition. I feel just as strongly or even more strongly about it now in my current role. I have every intention to ask Government to solve that as quickly as possible. It is urgent and important for the very reasons the Deputy mentioned.