Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The backlog for CHO 5 is as follows: As of 30 June 2020 there were 643; at the end of September the number was still 643; as at the end of October the number was 619; and at the end of November it was 501. Again, to turn the figures on their head, the number of assessments of need completed in CHO 5 for September was nil, for October it was 24 and for November it was 118.

The monthly meetings have proved very fruitful and I will continue to hold them but in two phases. I mean I plan to hold a monthly meeting that will address the assessment of needs. When we get on top of the backlog I plan to remain there. The backlog will still be on my agenda every single month but I will flip its priority and make it the intervention piece. I will start my intervention according to exactly what we have on our list as of 31 December. I know what we have as of 30 June so we will start there and every month I will be able to read the data line by line, just like I read out earlier. When we do not achieve on a line I will try to find out why, what barriers exist, how I can assist, what lessons can be learned and what learnings can be taken from one CHO to another. For the last number of meetings that I have had with the HSE I have found the sharing of information on that particular platform has been really helpful to everyone involved.

I am a new Minister of State who wishes to work hard but I also represent the views of the people who elected me. Not one of us, as elected representatives, would want to see a child on a list for a day longer than he or she should be or any day. I have found the sharing of information very helpful and believe in transparency. Yes, I will give the numbers to the committee every single month.