Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted with the extra funding and resources being put into Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, for which I commend the Minister for Health and the HSE. However, I raise this case in the House because I cannot get an answer from anyone as to why surgery has continuously been cancelled. The problem is that nobody is answerable in the HSE generally in that regard. I had assumed the Minister would be able to obtain an answer from the HSE because I was unable to get one and neither could the boy's parents. All I wanted was reassurance for the parents that the surgery would go ahead without further delay, but they have been put on the long finger and messed about. I know that there are probably other children whose cases are as bad as, if not worse than, his, but the family are very stressed and upset. They believe their son is being neglected and that they must do something about the matter, which is why they contacted me initially. I then contacted the Minister, but there has been no further movement in the case. I had never intended for the boy's name to be mentioned the House because no one needs to be aware of those directly involved in the case. However, his parents need information on what is happening in his case and I ask the Minister of State to provide it.