615. To ask the Minister for Health when the new theatre space for orthopaedic cases will be operating at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, given the long waiting list of orthopaedic procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46868/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Funding was allocated in 2015 for additional consultant posts including two consultant orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin, while capital funding was also provided for a new theatre on site to expand theatre capacity further. The 2016 Service Plan specifically provides for support for the new theatre capacity and the continued development of paediatric scoliosis services to address ongoing capacity deficits.

With regard to the specific query of when the new theatre space will become operational at Crumlin, this is a service matter and 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.