Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting for debate the critical issue of the shortage of orthodontic consultants in the midlands. We are at crisis point as regards interventions for young children. I met a number of parents at one of my recent weekly clinics in my constituency office who had been affected by this situation. One was a lady whose son had been on the waiting list for in excess of 18 months. Cousins of his in another part of the country and who are much younger than him have already received treatment. Despite having waited longer than 18 months, there is still no timeframe for his treatment.

In another case, a young boy spent nine years on the waiting list. After seven years, he was referred to Carlow for private treatment under the national waiting list initiative that was rolled out at the time. His problem had advanced significantly during those seven years, which meant that he was referred back to the Midlands Regional Hospital at Mullingar, where he has spent a further two years on the waiting list. That is nine years in total. He will turn 22 in July.

These are young and vulnerable children and this issue is critical in terms of their self-confidence, body image and pressure from peers. Prevention is better than cure. After a prolonged period, problems like these grow much worse and require surgical intervention, which is more expensive for the State and comes at a significant cost to the well-being of the young people in question.

Currently, there are 2.5 whole-time equivalent consultants in the midlands covering Tullamore, Portlaoise, Athlone, Longford and Mullingar. An advertisement was placed to recruit another orthodontist. Why did that not succeed? It is unacceptable that young and vulnerable people have spent as much as nine years on a waiting list for the treatment they need. The Department and we as a State and a people cannot stand over cases being allowed to worsen to the point of requiring surgical intervention. I would like answers for those involved.

Our resources are improving, but we need to show that on the ground. For how long has the position been vacant? What are the details of the recruitment campaigns that were run? Where were they advertised and why did they not work? What remuneration was offered and was it competitive with other jurisdictions? If services are stressed right now with 2.5 whole-time equivalents, what were the new contract's terms of employment? How many children in the midlands are on the waiting list for orthodontic services? We need to know that. As far as I can ascertain from working on the ground with my constituents, the number is significant. What efforts have been made since the HSE's last recruitment campaign?

The examples I have provided are snapshots of two vulnerable children, neither of whom has yet received a date for surgery. They are still waiting in the unknown. One will turn 22 years of age in July and requires surgical treatment now. Under the waiting list initiative, he has been passed from the private sector back into the public sector and has still not received answers.

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