Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Page 60 of the programme for Government speaks about improving waiting times, and along the same lines as our Leader on Leaders' Questions earlier dealing with people with disabilities and other treatments, juvenile arthritis is a major crisis in this country. It might not affect every family, but it affects members of my family and it certainly affects families in every constituency. Young children in chronic pain are on waiting lists for up to two years. At present, we have the equivalent of two and a half paediatric rheumatologists available to treat these children. International best practice states we need to have in the order of six. Despite numerous meetings by lobby groups and organisations on behalf of the parents and many Deputies here raising the issue, it seems the word around the campfire in the HSE is that the cupboard is bare and no money will be available for additional paediatric rheumatologists. I appeal to the Taoiseach to include this in the forthcoming budget because not to treat these children will ultimately be counter-productive because it will cost the State more as these children's treatments become more complicated as their condition worsens.

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