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

I agree it is not about money or surpluses. It is not about money at all. It is about the ability to recruit and retain the skilled staff that we need and, second, making sure that referrals are appropriate. Often waiting lists are longest where waiting lists are not triaged properly. Appropriate referrals are very important too, and then also the use of new technologies and new systems. I know that some parents have no option but to go private. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has made a commitment to develop proposals on that. I do not know exactly what point they are at but it is something she is working on, to have criteria in place to refund or at least partially refund the cost of going privately if parents have no option but to do so. I know that is the case for some.

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