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

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am aware that equipment has been ordered for ten children, leaving 18 for whom equipment has not been ordered. My understanding, from the Taoiseach's reply to my question, is that there is adequate funding for this provision within the HSE. I am concerned that if the funding is not directed to the Cork-Kerry region before 31 December, we will move into the 2022 budget and the money will have to go back to the Department of Finance. The money is there and there are 18 children for whom equipment has not been ordered. They have been assessed and it has been decided they require the equipment.

These children are located throughout all of counties Cork and Kerry, not in any one place. This is why it is very difficult for parents. I spoke to one last week who saw the article on this issue in the Irish Examiner. Her child was number three on the waiting list but no one from the HSE had called to tell her the equipment for her child was ordered. I advised her to contact the HSE. When she did so the following morning, she was advised that the equipment was ordered. This was the first she heard of it, even though she had been waiting since last March. To reiterate, there is equipment ordered for ten children and another 18 for whom it is not ordered. If it is not done by 31 December, we are going into next year's budget and the children will be back on the waiting list. There is a serious discrepancy between what is happening in CHO 4 and CHO 5. That is why I put down the question to the Minister in October about the comparison between the two areas. I am asking that the issue be resolved.

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