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

I thank the Minister for her response. She spoke about equality of access but it is very hard for me to go back and explain that to the parents of a nine year old who has been waiting over 18 months or to the 21 year old who has been waiting nine years. It does not ring true. The cross-border initiative is used by a lot of people in the State. Unfortunately, it does not suit everyone because payment has to be made upfront. There are people whose economic circumstances mean they cannot afford to do it so it is beyond their control. We have to be very clear on this. If the State is offering orthodontic treatment to people who are in vulnerable positions and we are spending a huge amount of money, at record levels, in the health service, we need to say we can treat them within a reasonable timeframe. We have taken 180 of the longest waiting patients off the list but if a 22 year old has been waiting nine years, I shudder to think how long some of the 180 people have been waiting. Where is the equality of access which should be its cornerstone? I cannot emphasise it enough. We get frustrated as public representatives when we see vulnerable people and children like this in our clinics who need this treatment. It frustrates politicians when a small bit of early intervention can save them invasive surgery years down the line. The HSE is getting money and the Government should recognise that having three recruitment campaigns represents a failure in the HSE. It has had three recruitment campaigns but has not secured a consultant when there are lots of them in the private sector. We cannot access them under the NPF because the conditions do not allow for it. We really need to get on top of it before it gets out of control.

See this speech in context