Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022
341. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 342 of 24 February 2022, if the paediatric orthopaedic funding allocated from the waiting list fund has been provided on a recurring or on a once-off basis. [12237/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January I asked the HSE to develop a dedicated plan to tackle scoliosis waiting lists this year. In February I met with senior officials of Children’s Heath Ireland (CHI) and the HSE, as well as senior orthopaedic clinicians from Temple Street, Crumlin and Cappagh, to discuss the finalisation of the proposals to increase orthopaedic activity at CHI. The plan proposes ambitious additional activity levels which will work to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end.
This latest initiative is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to address the issues facing these children. Both current and capital funding has been provided to a value of €19 million in 2022 to support this initiative.
In relation to the funding of this initiative, all capital funding, by its nature, is on a once-off basis. In terms of revenue costs, the €4.7 million in funding for 24 additional beds and 2 additional critical care beds has been provided to CHI since 2021 as part of its base allocation on a recurring basis. The balance of funding is sourced from the 2022 Access to Care fund, which as the Deputy will be aware is allocated annually, and therefore is once off for 2022. The commitment to fund the activities in this plan, and the associated requirement to ensure continued funding for the staffing needs of this initiative, will mean that securing recurring funding for these positions will be prioritised as part of the 2023 Estimates and Budget process.
