Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate his response. I appreciate the fact that he did not mention the adolescent scoliosis patients being transferred from Tallaght Hospital to the Mater Hospital. My concern today, of course, relates to the adult scoliosis patients. I am glad to hear that approval has been granted for a new consultant to be appointed after September 2017. Will the Minister of State confirm whether the 70 patients who are currently on Mr. Kiely's list will be transferred to the private sector to complete their treatments or if they will be transferred to the new consultant's list after he or she is appointed in September? These people have been waiting far too long and it would be my preference for them to be transferred to the private sector as a priority.