Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister for Health and the Government on the waiting list initiative that will see almost 375,000 interventions to support people. I was particularly pleased with what has been said regarding the 20 specialties, a three-month waiting list, new patient pathways to keep people out of acute care and a four-month waiting list for scoliosis. On the 11,000 additional interventions for orthodontics, child and adolescent mental health services, therapies, psychology and counselling for children, why will there not be a similar waiting list report showing the impact of these 11,000 patients on the waiting list? This is an area of acute concern, and we need these therapies to be delivered in a timely manner to children with needs. We should be able to see the impact on the waiting lists in the same way that we can in respect of other categories.

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