Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left) | Oireachtas source

Child poverty, in particular, and adult poverty, which has increased recently, could have been prevented had the Government made different choices.

The Minister said the previous Administration left a terrible system in the HSE, which is correct. At that stage, I believe approximately 70 people were awaiting scoliosis treatment in Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. However, under the present Administration, 174 children are waiting for those services four years on from 2011. In certain areas things have got worse for children and that money urgently needs to be put into early years services across the board.

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