Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In recent years, nothing has been more heart-rending than the shocking waiting times for children and young people for surgery for scoliosis. Children's health has been compromised by the undue delays and in many cases, optimal outcomes have not been achieved as a result of the delays. Getting the surgery on time is critical not only to full recovery but to the proper, full development of a child's potential. On 1 September on the "Late Late Show" there were very revealing stories told, particularly by Megan Halvey Ryan who waited 18 months for an operation. As a result of the long delay, she had to have full spinal surgery and has less flexibility because of the nature of the operation she had to have as a result of the long delay. The Taoiseach's predecessor, Deputy Enda Kenny, said it would be an absolute priority that those on the waiting list would not have to wait longer than four months and that would be the case by the end of 2017. However, that was in March and the situation as of last month is that those waiting list targets have been missed. The number of children waiting for more than four months has increased from 124 to 145 and for some of those it is much longer than four months. I am dealing with a case of a young boy aged 15 years who has been diagnosed as needing urgent surgery. In August 2016, he was put on the surgical waiting list. The surgeon is saying it is urgent. He has complications caused by other conditions such as spina bifida. He is in a wheelchair. I have spoken to his mother, who emailed me this morning saying that humanity, empathy and compassion need to be taken into account when dealing with her son's case. She is at her wit's end. She is totally stressed as a result of the lack of progress on the waiting time. There is also the fear that if it does not happen on time, his health will be further compromised. In his case and others, what has been going on for the past three to four years has been quite shocking and represents a failure in providing resources. Will the Taoiseach indicate that the waiting list target - the absolute priority set by his predecessor - will be met by the end of this year and that urgency will continue to be attached to cases such as that of the young man I referenced and about whom I have communicated with the Minister and others?

It is quite shocking to have to go back to the mother of such a child. The mother is relatively helpless in progressing the case further. Can the Taoiseach give a firm commitment that waiting target will be achieved?

See this speech in context