Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As he will be aware, additional finance has been provided. In the past, additional money has not solved the problem, although, hopefully, it will on this occasion. I would not like us ever to be in a position where we are prioritising or pitting children who need different types of spinal surgery against each other. Children who need scoliosis surgery need scoliosis surgery; children who need spinal surgery as a result of spina bifida or hydrocephalus also need it. I would not like us to be in a position where we are saying one should be prioritised over another. We need to sort out the situation around spinal surgery for children once and for all. I can absolutely guarantee the Deputy it will be neither a lack of finance nor a lack of political will that will hold that back.

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