Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I understand that the review by Mr. Nayagam is ongoing and that it is looking at the broad spectrum of ways to improve services. Is one of those - I am sure the Department has looked at this - for children to travel abroad for intervention or surgery? That can be slightly complicated given the nature of this surgery. Has it been actively looked at? It is good that we have more capacity but the test is whether children are waiting longer than they should for intervention, and they are. The Minister and his colleagues want to reduce the waiting time to as close as possible to the four-month target but that target is clearly being missed. As I said, 90 children have been waiting more than four months. This surgery is complicated. Has the possibility of children travelling abroad been looked at or have medical facilities where the surgery could take place been considered, other than the main hospitals in Temple Street, Crumlin and Cappagh?

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