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

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. Notwithstanding the aggressive management of waiting lists that has been reported and the absolute promise and commitment given by the Minister that no child would have to wait longer than four months, the best the Minister of State can do is report a slowdown in the rate of increase. That is not good enough. These are sick children who are in pain and they are being left to wait.

As we speak, the orthopaedic theatre in Crumlin children's hospital, which is in the Minister of State's constituency, is still only operational three days a week. How can the Department expect to make good on promises made by the Minister if resources are not being provided and the resources available are not being utilised to their full capacity? The orthopaedic theatre in Crumlin children's hospital should be open for longer than eight hours a day. It should be open seven days a week until the backlog has been eliminated.

The parents of these children are in the unfortunate position that they are forgotten about the moment the spotlight comes off this issue and the Minister no longer has a microphone and camera in his face. That is how they feel. If they do not go to the media, they cannot get any traction. Many of them are at home looking after their children. They do not want to have to talk to me or the Minister of State or engage with politicians. They want to live their lives and they want their children to get the surgery they need but they are forced to go to the media and kick up a fuss just to get basic services. The best the Minister of State can do is report that there has been a slight improvement because the rate of increase has slowed. She stated that 30% of children with scoliosis wait longer than four months. It is nearly two and a half years since a promise was made that no child would wait more than two months.

I am not asking the Minister of State to agree with me because if she did, I am sure she would not say so, which is fair enough. Surely anyone looking at this would agree that is not fair and that the promises that were given to those parents count for nothing. The parents will have to keep advocating, lobbying politicians and going to the media when they want to spend time with their sick children.

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