Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire Stáit. This surgery was scheduled previously, and it was cancelled. Surgery is a traumatic and worrying period for any person no matter what age. For any of us with children, it is even more worrying and scary. Then for the child, it is extremely traumatic, and how a parent deals with that is extremely difficult. For surgery to be scheduled, cancelled, rescheduled and cancelled is far more difficult on a family than the actual surgery itself in a lot of instances because of the fear that the hope of getting something done will be taken away. There is also, naturally, concern about the impacts and dangers that come with surgery.

I know the Minister of State is not the direct line Minister for Health, but I will ask three particular direct questions of him today. If he could give them to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I would appreciate an answer. How can it be justified that a child at risk of permanent disability has been left languishing in the system, in this case for over three years, and in other cases even longer? How is it acceptable that CHI can refuse to provide written explanations to a parent whose child's surgery is being cancelled? What accountability will be put in place to ensure the culture of indifference finally ends? As I said, this is not an isolated case. Families across Ireland are waiting far too long for essential procedures. CHI's failures are well known, and while it is now being folded into the HSE, changing the letterhead will not fix the problem. We need structural reform and a complete change in culture that places the child at the centre, not bureaucracy.

I ask the Minister of State to acknowledge the unacceptable delays in Evan's case, investigate why this family were put through years of suffering and ensure that the Gardiner family receive not only timely surgery but also a full apology for how they have been treated. Evan's surgery must now proceed on 10 October, and nothing less will do to be honest.

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