Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply, but I genuinely believe that even the deadlines mentioned by her are not good enough for many of the children I have mentioned. The Minister talks about July for Tallaght Hospital and international recruitment of theatre nurses for the new theatre in Our Lady's Children's Hospital. Everybody knew this theatre was being built - it was happening before our eyes - yet the recruitment process has been very slow. The problem is that, as I speak and the Minister listens, children's lungs and hearts are being slowly crushed while they wait. Some children can no longer retain their food because their stomach is being squeezed. That is happening to the five children with whose parents I discussed this. I met some of the children. There are also 203 others on the waiting list. July 2017 is a long way into the future for a five year old child who needs surgery today.

I urge the Minister and the Minister of State to reflect on this. I am not holding anybody personally responsible. Nobody has a monopoly on humanity and we all want to help. However, the Minister must urgently revisit this matter. We all know the Children's Hospital Group is under pressure to deliver care within its budget while at the same time plan for the new children's hospital. These children cannot wait for the new children's hospital. We must provide the resources, be it through the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, or through some other method. These theatres must be functioning from 1 January next. Otherwise, children will be irreparably damaged. That simply is not good enough. These children have an entitlement to life like anybody else.

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