Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader of the House ask the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to explain the reason there is an appalling situation in the Eastern Regional Health Authority where children who may have been sexually abused must wait for up to three months to be assessed at the special unit in Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin? That three month period relates to children on a priority list. Those not on the list may have to wait up to seven months. This is very serious for children who may have been abused and cannot be assessed. As hundreds of children are involved in just one health board area, what are the numbers involved throughout the country? It is a very serious issue which I want the Minister to urgently address.