John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I regret having to raise this issue again. It concerns the plight of 25 children who are suffering with SMA. The Taoiseach will be aware that in June last year, a decision was made that the drug, Spinraza, would be made available for those children. We are almost at the end of the year, six months on, and the vast majority of those children have not started their initial treatment nor have they been given a date for when it will happen. I have met the Minister for Health and his officials and, unfortunately, we have not been given firm dates. The families of those children are looking at their condition deteriorating. Time is of the essence and there is a sense of urgency. Will the Taoiseach work with the Minister for Health to try to give some clarity to when those children will be given a date for initial treatment?

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