David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As far back as 2017 the same families were told that this was a top priority. The Minister might recall that Simon Harris at the time gave a clear and unequivocal commitment to reduce waiting lists and that no child would wait longer than four months. That point was restated by the next Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly. He said that by the end of the year just gone no more than 20 children would be waiting longer than four months. The figures, of course, tell a different story with 3,400 children on waiting lists for their first orthopaedic outpatient consultation, 230 children on spinal surgery waiting lists and 137 active waiters. There are now 48 children who are waiting six-plus months for their surgeries. As this has increased from 37, rather than going down the number of people waiting has gone up.

I asked the Minister also about the clinical review in Temple Street, which is being carried out by Mr. Nayagam. I have asked about this review time after time. When are we going to see it? There is no draft or interim report and no update. I know these things take time but it is really important to restore confidence in Children's Health Ireland, CHI, so that we get some sense as to when these reports will be concluded, and that we can see what is in them.

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