Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

First, I would like to thank my colleague, Deputy Cullinane, and also Daniel who works with him, for all their work in this regard and for this evening. I join others in welcoming and thanking the families for making the effort to travel this evening to be here.

It is really important that we continue to shine a light on the absolute failure of children's healthcare in the State. Undoubtedly, we are failing children. Endless promises are made. We often hear pronouncements that we cannot let things like this happen again and yet here we are again.

The families do not want to hear that it is "not good enough". Families do not want to hear that the Minister of State has empathy. Families want to hear that she has a plan and a solution. We are putting that forward in our motion tonight. I cannot believe the Government is not going to support the motion.

The never-ending trauma inflicted on children and their families will have a permanent and harmful impact on their health, not to mention the child's mental health as well. Parents accessing healthcare on behalf of their children are in a constant and relentless battle, and it is not just in this area. We have heard the statistics, which are absolutely frightening, with regard to spinal surgeries. Children with additional needs are also waiting to access therapy appointments and assessments. Children accessing CAMHS are waiting for those services. The Children's Rights Alliance today gave the Government an E grade for the third year in a row regarding children being admitted to adult psychiatric units. Here we are again with the same old story.

I cannot imagine how desperate parents must feel at this point. Because of their child's health, they have essentially become campaigners and lobbyists just to get their children access to transitional care, specialist rehabilitation or surgeries or whatever entitlements they should have as a right. The high percentage of children waiting for vital appointments remains desperately higher than Sláintecare targets. It is vital that children are seen based on clinical need and not the ability to pay. What we are really doing by allowing this to continue is failing a whole generation of children.

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