Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not mean to be disrespectful to the Minister of State but does the Minister, Deputy Harris, ever take a Topical Issue matter? I have been here as long as some Members but my understanding is that it is customary for the Minister to take Topical Issue matters where possible. My colleague, Deputy Quinlivan, has raised 13 Topical Issues regarding Limerick hospital and I have raised countless Topical Issue matters related to health and I do not believe the Minister for Health has ever taken one of those. I do not mean that in a disrespectful way to the Minister of State and I am glad that she is here.

In February 2017, following a very harrowing "Prime Time" documentary, many promises were made regarding waiting lists, particularly for children with scoliosis. Those promises were made under pressure in the limelight and they have not been kept and children and their families are still waiting and unfortunately they are waiting in pain.

As matters currently stand, 3,500 children are waiting for their first appointment and those are the children about whom we know. Also, it is estimated that approximately 10,000 children waiting are hidden on adult waiting lists. If there are hidden waiting lists, children who are hidden on adult waiting lists, how will it be possible to plan for the surgery, appointments and all that those children will need because the Minister cannot tell how many there are?

We have seen in recent weeks the parents of children with scoliosis being forced to take to the media. No parent wants to do that. I am a parent and I would not want to have to do it and I know that they do not want to have to do it. It was reported in the newspapers that Deirdre O'Keeffe, a mother from County Cork, said that her daughter, Alison, aged 14, was put on the list for surgery in Crumlin Hospital in December and she was deemed urgent. I do not know what that means to the Minister of State but to me it means that the procedure needs to be carried out in a timely manner. She had a pre-operative assessment in February and at Easter she was told that her name was highlighted on a board to be brought for surgery. She was told she would be brought for surgery but she is still waiting with no operation date, and that is an urgent case.

Joseph Hornick and his daughter, Amber, are in a similar limbo. She was diagnosed in October and her family had to pay for a private outpatient appointment and an MRI at a cost of approximately €600, which for many families is money that cannot not easily be found. She was seen in Crumlin Hospital in February and again told that her case was urgent and that her surgery would be done in two to three months. Her dad says he calls the hospital two to three times a week but still has no date for surgery.

All the promises that were made by the Minister, Deputy Harris, and all the apologies that were issued mean absolutely nothing to those children who are waiting in pain. The complications that arise from being left waiting are many. Children develop internal complications as the curvature of their spine worsens.

Not only are they in pain - the Minister of State should be under no illusions about that - but their internal organs are being damaged as the condition worsens. This is wholly unacceptable, as the Minister admitted when he promised in February 2017 that no child would be left waiting for longer than four months. More than two years later, that target has not been met. The families are due another apology but they would prefer if their children were able to access the surgery they need.

See this speech in context