Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are also dependent on parents being able to travel and in that regard, I understand that it is not always straightforward. In terms of the theatre, we had this conversation this time last year. Indeed, the same conversation was had by many others who were in government before my time in this post. We had a theatre that was closed, that was not performing surgeries. We have hired nurses, the theatre is open and we have an additional consultant. The Deputy is right - the theatre is operating three days per week. If it can do more, I am assured that it absolutely will but I am not going to tell people false information. The theatre is open and is providing more surgeries. Already Crumlin and Temple Street have done the same amount of operations this year as they did in all of last year. This year they will end up doing far more than they did last year. We are using the Mater, Cappagh and Stanmore. We are utilising everything at our disposal. There is no shortage in terms of funding or a determination to make this happen. However, it is complex and is an extraordinarily ambitious target. The HSE is right to have set an ambitious target because, as a country, we were so appalled at the waiting times. However, we need a longer-term, sustainable plan to deal with this within our own country which is why the work of the co-design team is so important. We will try to reflect that progress in the Estimates process as well.

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