Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for dealing with this matter. I was advised over six weeks ago that there were 28 children on a waiting list for vital medical devices such as wheelchairs and, in one particular case, a device required to assist a young person in regard to speech development. My understanding was that there were a total of 28 children on that waiting list as of the start of October 2021. In October, I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health. As a result, funding was made available, as I understand it, for devices to be provided for ten children.

In the parliamentary question I asked specifically about CHO 4 and CHO 5. CHO 4 is the Cork-Kerry region and CHO 5 is the Carlow-Kilkenny region. The reply I received from the HSE was to the effect that there is no waiting list in CHO 5, but in regard to CHO 4, the Cork-Kerry area, the reply states that the HSE sincerely regrets that there can be a waiting time for important equipment such as wheelchairs, in some cases, but that this is due to circumstances beyond its control, such as long lead times when ordering from manufacturers and that in other cases, the funding available to it does not meet the demand. Why is there discrimination between children who are living in, say, Mitchelstown and children living in, say, Cork city? If one is living in Mitchelstown one could be waiting for up to 12 months for equipment whereas if one is living in Cahir there is no waiting list. That is total discrimination. I have raised this here with the Taoiseach as well in the past two weeks. He advised that there is adequate funding within the HSE. I understand that there is an underspend in some departments and that €60,000 would resolve the problem for the medical devices that are required for the remaining 18 children. I ask the Minister of State to clarify that this funding will be provided prior to 31 December.

See this speech in context