Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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2276. To ask the Minister for Health the current number of children on waiting lists for scoliosis and spina bifida surgery; the length of time each child has been waiting; and the number of surgeries cancelled or rescheduled in the past three years, disaggregated by reason for cancellation. [45441/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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2277. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the 2017 Government commitment that no child would wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery has not been delivered; and the new binding guarantees that will now be made to ensure no child experiences such delays in the future. [45442/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As a priority, significant additional investment has been allocated to help tackle waiting lists for spinal procedures. Progress has been made with additional theatre capacity, additional resources, extra outpatient clinics, and national and international outsourcing already in place. Further improvements are underway including the onboarding of additional orthopaedic surgeons and improved referral pathways. So far this year, 303 spinal procedures have already been completed, up from 258 for the same period last year, demonstrating an increase in activity and capacity.

The Paediatric Spinal Services Management Unit, established in CHI in 2024, is led by a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, and supported by wider Multi-Disciplinary Teams. This unit ensures patients are prioritised correctly for surgery and works to reduce waiting times.

As of end July 2025, 74 children had been waiting more than three months for care on Children’s Health Ireland’s (CHI) active spinal waiting list, meaning 44% of those on the active waiting list were within the Sláintecare targets. This marks a significant improvement from August 2024, when 108 children were waiting over three months, which was 28% within the Sláintecare targets.

Paediatric spinal services remain a priority under the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) in 2025. 

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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2278. To ask the Minister for Health if the parents of a child (details supplied) were at any stage informed of their child’s removal from the urgent waiting list; the clinical and administrative basis for this decision; and the measures being introduced to ensure that parents are fully informed and consulted before any such removal in the future. [45443/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family on the devastating loss of their child. I have asked for a multidisciplinary report on the timeline for this child's case. This work is currently underway by the HSE and CHI.

As this request is regarding the treatment details of an individual patient, it is more appropriate for the Health Service Executive to provide the deputy with a direct response. In this context, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.