David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be associated with the warm welcome of the funding for the North Quays in Waterford. It is a great day for Waterford. Well done to all involved.

I raise the issue of spinal surgeries for children with scoliosis and spina bifida. The Minister earlier this year presented a plan which, in fairness, was a collaboration of working with the hospitals, but also with the Opposition. The plan set out funding on the one hand but also a number of targets on the other. The first target is that we would reduce the number of children waiting from 224 in January to 128 by the end of the year. That target will not be met. The second target was that no child should wait longer than four months. That target will not be met either. The third target was that we would spend the money that was allocated - €19 million. We had an admission from the Minister yesterday that none of those targets would be met. Now we have problems with even the €19 million funding that was announced being spent because of staffing issues and because the surgical theatres will not come on as quickly as possible. We need to get our act together on this issue and make sure the funding that was announced is actually spent.

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