Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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419. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to develop a national programme to deal with paediatric spinal conditions, in terms of providing personnel and operating theatres including a dedicated surgery theatre for paediatrics with scoliosis and other spinal conditions, particularly in view of the unacceptable delays at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2471/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Spinal conditions, including scoliosis, in children and young people are predominantly managed at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC). It is acknowledged by all that waiting times for surgery are unacceptable and the Children's Hospital Group, OLCHC and the HSE are actively working to address them as quickly as possible and exploring all short, medium- and long-term options to increase capacity.

I am pleased to say that funding has been allocated in the 2015 Service Plan to facilitate the appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and support staff to maximise utilisation of available theatre sessions in OLCHC. This is part of a total of approximately €5m being provided for the overall development of orthopaedic infrastructure nationally, which also includes an additional consultant orthopaedic surgeon for Cork University Hospital with a special interest in paediatrics. This will facilitate reduced referral rates of children to services in the Dublin area thus freeing up capacity there.

In regard to theatre capacity, the HSE is working with hospitals to establish the extent to which existing theatre capacity in Tallaght Hospital and Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital could be made available to children for whom it is deemed clinically appropriate (in the case of Cappagh, likely to be a small cohort), focusing on level of complexity and age so that the right surgery in the right place is undertaken. The HSE has also begun an appraisal of options to increase interim paediatric orthopaedic theatre capacity in advance of the transition to the new children’s hospital.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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420. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will undergo the urgent spinal surgery they require at Crumlin children's hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2472/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Scoliosis in children and young people is predominantly managed at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC). OLCHC and the HSE are actively working to address waiting lists for surgery. They are exploring all short, medium and long-term options to increase capacity. I am pleased to say that funding has been allocated in the 2015 Service Plan to facilitate the appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and support staff to maximise utilisation of available theatre sessions in OLCHC.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with them.