Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the case of a constituent of the Tánaiste and of mine who is waiting on a relatively minor operation for a hernia on his leg. He has been waiting for six months and has been told that he has another six months to go. He has been out of work for six months and must continue to get sick pay for another six months until the operation is done. His savings have been depleted. He approached the community welfare officer, was refused and is desperately worried about how he is going to pay his bills. He was willing to take out a loan to get it done privately but obviously he cannot do so now because he is not at work and there is no indication as to when he is going to get back into work. Does the Tánaiste agree that this is a shocking situation for this person to find himself in? What can be done to help this man to get the operation he needs to get back to work?

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