Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree. The advocacy group has done Trojan work in highlighting this area of shame in the context of how the situation was allowed to develop. I would like to see the theatre open five days a week. I am assured by the Children's hospital group that this would require more consultants being recruited so, realistically, it will be 2018. Let us work to get there and, in the meantime, let us do everything we can.

The Deputy is right that some children cannot go abroad. I understand there are 68 children and young people whose cases are classified as medically complex. I am informed that, as of 25 September, 61 of these patients require treatment prior to the end of the year. There is capacity for 32 of those procedures to be carried out in Crumlin and there will be a treatment plan put in place for the remaining patients, I am told, within the next two weeks. We will continue to do everything we possibly can in the Department and in the HSE, not just to drive down the list once and for all but to ensure that once we get to an appropriate target, we keep it there. Four months is the clinically appropriate target. We must make sure that we can provide the capacity in this country without ever needing to send children abroad. This year, we have got to do everything we possibly can to get the list down.

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