Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is an issue that has been a problem for us certainly as long as I can remember. The question I want to answer and the one I think is the most important to be answered is what are we doing about it. The new theatre in Crumlin is now open. The additional nurses are now in post in Crumlin and Temple Street and an additional orthopaedic surgeon will commence work in Crumlin in early October. A total of 226 surgeries have taken place in Crumlin and Temple Street so far this year, which is a significant increase already on last year. A total of 23 cases have been outsourced to the Mater, Cappagh and Stanmore and the HSE has also completed an international tender for paediatric spinal fusion procedures to take place in three other hospitals. Those hospitals will commence patient reviews immediately with a view to commencing treatment in October 2017.

It is fair to say that we are pulling out all the stops and doing everything we can to make sure more children have the surgery they need within an acceptable time period, and if that involves offering people treatment abroad, we will fund that but we understand and accept that for perfectly legitimate reasons every parent may not wish to accept the offer of treatment abroad.

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