Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response, but more is needed. From speaking to the parents at the protests, they were concerned, frustrated and angry at a situation that had been developing for some time. Many of them pointed to the fact that the number of children and teens presenting with diabetes was increasing rapidly. Is the Minister of State confident that what has been agreed to, but still has not been delivered, will be adequate to clear what is a substantial backlog of 400 children and young adults? They are not just from Cork, but the wider south west. Will the appointment of an additional consultant on a locum basis and the appointment of a consultant on a permanent basis at the start of next year, which is still a ways off, be enough? This issue needs to be examined carefully to ensure that the children in the substantial backlog are seen every four months as required.

I will take this opportunity to draw the Minister of State's attention to another matter that has occurred to me during our discussion on diabetes. He will be aware that Sinn Féin has published legislation on reforming the long-term illness scheme so that it is reviewed more frequently than is currently the case. Some products and medicines would benefit people, including children, with diabetes. FreeStyle Libre has been made available to children under the scheme but, as far as I am aware, it is not available to all patients with diabetes. Our legislation would allow the long-term illness scheme to be reviewed regularly and to be of benefit to many of the patients in question.

There is a substantial backlog of patients. I appreciate that an appointment next January has been approved and that a locum will be in place. I hope that the latter will be dedicated to this service full time. To put it bluntly, if the additional consultant is provided, is the Minister of State confident that children will be seen every four months?

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