Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Government imposed cutbacks to services for sick children in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. Recently the House debated the horrific abuse of children at the hands of the religious and the State. It was resolved on all sides of the House that no such thing would ever be allowed to happen again. While that debate was taking place, the Minister for Health and Children was withdrawing money from the children's hospital, which had the effect of forcing the administrators to close wards and a life saving operating theatre. If this action is not reversed, it will cause severe suffering, prolonged pain and misery to innocent, sick children.

The closure of a life saving operating theatre is most likely to be the cause of children dying unnecessarily. The mothers of these children will never forgive the Minister for the actions she took that led to this sorry pass. She put a system in place that empowers an unaccountable quango to use taxpayer's money as its sees fit. It is not only a shame or a disgrace, it is a crime to allow little children to suffer unnecessary pain and misery and even avoidable death. The Minister and her Fianna Fáil backers who keep her in office are responsible and I would not like to have the consequences of her actions on my conscience.

I refer to two children in my own constituency, who are typical of those needing services at in Our Lady's children's hospital. The first is little Jack McNiffe who has spent most of his four years in the hospital. He has been wonderfully cared for and he has had a number of procedures successfully carried out there and in Great Ormond Street hospital. His mother, Aisling, is stressed and worried that the cutbacks in resources at Crumlin hospital will mean vital procedures being dangerously delayed. This boy and his mother have suffered enough without this added unnecessary hassle.

The second child is Devinn Behan. I welcome him and his parents to the Visitors Gallery. Devinn is a bright 12-year old body who has a condition which has led the twisting of his spine, which, in turn, is damaging his hearts and lungs. He urgently needs an operation to correct this condition. On 26 May, the Irish Independent reported on his case and spoke to his mother, Veronica:

"His mother Veronica spoke last night of her fears for his health. Desperate efforts to have the surgery to treat his neurofibromatosis -- an aggressive spinal deformity -- have so far failed, as the condition worsens.

"We have been told it is a life-threatening condition, with major impacts on his quality of life and life expectancy," she added.

A fifth-class pupil at Scoil Bride in Naas, Devinn requires complex surgery which will involve two operations -- leaving him in theatre for two 12-hour sessions.

"Last year, we were informed by the medical team in Crumlin that Devinn's case was a priority but unfortunately there was no space available in the theatre," his mother said.

"That was still the case when we went back in May. I contacted the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to find out if it could be done privately but was told it was too expensive and too complex.

"I was then directed to the national hospitals' office in the Health Service Executive and was told it would take place in September.

"But there was no confirmation from the medical team in Crumlin and the hospitals' office has now told us there is no date for the operation. Our only hope is to apply for inclusion in the treatment abroad scheme but if this is granted it will mean we will have to travel abroad with the cost up to 40pc higher than if the operation was carried out in Crumlin.

"Devinn's condition is continuing to deteriorate. By the time he is operated on, he will require several surgeries."

Metal rods were fitted to part of Devinn's spine when he was six but these have become detached, causing him to bend forward and leaving him with growth problems, with stress on his heart and lungs...

"The next surgery will involve detaching the rods and placing him in spinal traction.

"Then he will undergo instrumental correction of the spine and be fitted with new metal rods..."

Devinn's plight emerged as Crumlin has imposed ward and theatre cuts because of a €9m shortfall in funding this year.

Both families have the fullest praise for the nurses and staff in Crumlin hospital and they are fearful that the Minister's resources limitation will cause even more suffering for their special children. These children and others have suffered enough and, on their behalf, I plead with her to find the money for the banks and builders somewhere other than in the budget for Our Lady's hospital. If she has an ounce of human kindness, she will surely do so. If she is not mindful to heed my plea, perhaps she will heed the pleas of the mothers of the children.

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