Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Seven years ago, the then Minister for Health and the Taoiseach's Fine Gael colleague, Deputy Simon Harris, promised that no child would be waiting longer than four months for scoliosis surgery. That promise was never met and of all the Government's broken promises, I think it is one of the most callous. The fact is there are more children on scoliosis-related waiting lists now than when the Minister gave that commitment in 2017. This has happened on the Taoiseach's watch. There remain, as of this month, 327 children on waiting lists for scoliosis-related surgery. It is not acceptable.

The families and children involved deserve better. Last night, I met with them and I listened to their concerns. I listened to the tragic stories of those families and heard about the pain that their children are in and the life-limiting state in which many of these children find themselves. What these children and families must endure is heart-breaking. They feel they have been let down because Government promises have been made and broken time and again.

Mothaíonn na teaghlaigh seo gur ligeadh síos iad toisc go bhfuil gealltanais an Rialtais briste arís agus arís eile.

Two years ago, in 2022, I raised the issue of children with scoliosis waiting years here in the Dáil. I visited Cappagh Hospital and I met with CHI management. I also met with parents and advocacy groups. The Government subsequently committed to €19 million of additional spending on the promise that this would result in no child waiting longer than four months by the end of 2022. That promise has also been broken.

Astoundingly, the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, informed the Dáil last night that he cannot guarantee that the €19 million was spent for the purposes for which it was intended. He does not know. The Government does not know. What we do know is that far too many children are waiting and waiting.

One such child is Kylie Ann from Donegal. Kylie Ann is ten years old and she has been waiting five years for life changing surgery. That is half of her young life. Kylie Ann’s mother has challenged all of us here to see Kylie Ann as she sees her, with love, to give her the chance and the quality of life she deserves. I think we should meet that challenge. That is why our motion tonight matters so much. These children deserve better.

Will the Taoiseach agree to work with us and the parents and advocates to establish a task force that works? Will he work with us to achieve accountability and transparency? Will he work with us to put in place a plan that delivers finally for these children? There is an urgency to all this. Every and all treatment options must be on the table for these children and young people. Everyone must commit to doing everything necessary to end the scandal of children waiting for spinal surgery once and for all.

Our motion sets out that plan to address all of these matters in co-operation with parents, advocates, clinicians and the Taoiseach. As a gesture of seriousness and goodwill, I ask the Taoiseach to withdraw the Government's amendment to our motion this evening. I ask that he work collectively with us to finally crack this and get the job done. The plan we have set out is the plan the families want implemented. As I understand, they are looking to meet the Taoiseach to discuss that plan. Will he meet them?

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