Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1006. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the allocation of the €19 million to paediatric orthopaedics in 2022, including detailed amounts allocated for very complex cases, scoliosis and for spina bifida; the amount allocated between Children's Health Ireland, CHI, both at Temple Street and Crumlin, and the Cappagh; the additions that the funding has provided in the way of additional staff or resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54557/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Earlier this year, I approved an ambitious plan from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis/spina bifida) by the year end. More than €17 million of current and capital funding is being provided to implement the plan. A detailed breakdown of the funding is provided at the following link.

">CHI Funding

This funding will provide additional theatre access at Temple Street and Crumlin, diagnostic MRI capacity and enable further activity and paediatric theatre lists at Cappagh Hospital.

CHI has advised that, of the 24 additional beds provided for under the funding, 11 have opened and 13 are due to open by end Q4 2022.

Enabling work is underway in relation to the second MRI in Crumlin and it is due to open by the end of 2022. A second charitable funded MRI is being installed in CHI at Temple St. which is due to become operational in early 2023.

The additional theatre in Temple St. is due at the end of Q1/Q2 2023, with additional theatre capacity in Crumlin due in Q1 2023.

With regard to the additional staffing CHI advise that 33.2 WTE have been recruited, with recruitment for 43.4 WTE in process and recruitment to commence shortly for 15 WTE.

I have asked CHI to provide additional detail in respect of the breakdown of funding for complex cases, scoliosis and spina bifida and Cappagh to provide an update on their recruitment.