Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the answer to the Kerry problem here, perhaps a special hour every week for the Kerry Members on their own would answer the problem.

On page 105 of the programme for Government there is a commitment to ensuring that "every young person is enabled to reach their full potential". Juvenile arthritis is holding back up to 1,500 young Irish people from leaving full and vibrant lives. I understand that the World Health Organization recommends six rheumatologists for a population of 4.7 million but in Ireland, we only have two. The Irish Children's Arthritis Network is a volunteer charity supporting children who are living with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and their families in Ireland. The charity informs me there were 793 children waiting to see a consultant rheumatologist as 2017 drew to a close. It also revealed that the national average waiting time in 2014 was 125 days, which had increased by 2016 to 169 days. I understand that some children have had to wait for up to three years for service. By international averages we should have six rheumatologists for 4.7 million, but we only have two. We should have at least six.

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