Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the Minister's ongoing efforts relating to this emotive issue, particularly in relation to CHI. I thank her for her help with some constituents in Kildare North and her work with the families. It is important that is acknowledged. However, it is incumbent to speak of the hundreds of children still waiting for spinal operations that are time-sensitive. In October, CHI reported 223 children on a spinal surgery list. Around 140 of them are actively waiting. That means they are ready for surgery but still have no date. Some children have been waiting more than 18 months. A very small number have waited more than three years. For a child, three years can change everything. No one should spend their childhood waiting for essential surgery.

These delays are not just numbers; they are children in severe pain. They are nights when a child cannot sleep comfortably, school days missed, opportunities lost and parents watching their child struggle while feeling they cannot do anything to fix it. Families are trying to stay hopeful but long silences, sudden cancellations and mixed messages take a huge emotional toll.

I recognise that progress has been made. CHI has increased throughput. The spinal surgery management unit has been established to strengthen co-ordination. Additional surgeons, nurses and specialist staff have come on board and new theatre spaces and a new MRI have helped speed up care. Children have been sent abroad when needed and that has offered timely treatment for many families. These steps matter and I welcome them but progress is still uneven. Capacity has improved yet cancellations continue to disrupt families. Communication gaps leave parents unsure and anxious and too many children continue to wait far too long for surgery that could prevent long-term deterioration.

When a surgery is cancelled at short notice, it affects children and their families and their sense of trust in the system. If we want to fix this properly, we need four things: accountability for delays; full transparency about waiting times and cancellations; clear communication so families know exactly where they stand; and follow-through on our commitments to reduce long waits. Promises must become practice.

This is not about blaming staff. Ireland has outstanding clinicians who want to give all children the care they deserve. They need a system that supports timely planning, consistent scheduling and clear, reliable pathways. Children only get one childhood. We cannot let long waits define or limit it. If we stay focused, support the health service and its staff and work with families, we can build a spinal service that is timely, transparent and fully centred on the child. We owe that to the children waiting today.

One image that will stay with me was tweeted by Harvey Morrison Sherratt's mother, Gillian, this morning. It was of his bedroom door. As I have a nine-month-old child at home, it really shook me and I cannot imagine the pain she is going through. It is important that we all think not only of Harvey but of the other children who have been affected.

As I said previously, I thank the Minister for her work. A lot more can be done.

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