Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that Deputy Kelleher is not being political or over-dramatic on this. He is simply reflecting the situation of certain families and the challenges that face them. He is absolutely correct, and we agree, that waiting times are not acceptable in this case, with children in the circumstances the Deputy outlined. Having the theatre built is one thing but recruiting the nurses to be in place to ensure the surgeries commence is proving challenging, not only in this case but in other hospitals across the country. The Deputy will be aware of that. Crumlin hospital has outsourced 15 patients to the private sector under the winter initiative funding. It has also outsourced nine patients to the private sector. Every effort is being made to schedule patients for their surgeries. Some of the patients require two-stage procedures, along with emergency and urgent patients. There is much happening in terms of trying to manage the spinal surgery at the hospital while continuing to manage the trauma and elective surgery as well.

I assure Deputy Kelleher that I will bring his concerns, which the Minister is aware of, to the Minister's attention again. The Minister has met with the advocacy groups and he is working to ensure that these surgeries are carried out as soon as possible. This matter will receive our full attention.

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