Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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301. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to recruit additional paediatric rheumatologists to address the number of children on the waiting list to be diagnosed and treated for juvenile arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19005/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that there are challenges in meeting the growing demand for rheumatology services, and that the Health Service Executive is working towards improving access to such services.

Any consideration of further funding to support rheumatology service developments has to be considered in the context of service prioritisation and with regard to competing priorities for resources available as part of the 2019 Estimates process.

In relation to your query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.