I wish to make an observation regarding the comment made by the Tánaiste in her interview in the SIPTU journal, in which she appears to have pulled back and to have changed her tune from her attitude in this Chamber two weeks ago regarding working people actually having smart phones, being able to use them and being able to interact with social media. Many people found those remarks to be highly patronising and contentious.

That said, I wish to raise the issue of scoliosis and the number of children who are awaiting surgery in the Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. I have been contacted by many families on this issue, as well as by Scoliosis Ireland, which has made the point that waiting lists have continued to increase in this area over the recent past. As the Tánaiste is aware, scoliosis is a serious condition that causes curvature of the spine and in more serious cases, if not treated it affects children leaving their backs twisted and deformed and can put pressure on their lungs and heart. More than 530 children are stuck on waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery at Crumlin children's hospital. Moreover, 50 children who need surgery for curvature of the spine are waiting for up to 18 months and more for surgery at Crumlin and Tallaght hospitals. Patrick Kiely, who is a consultant at Crumlin hospital, has stated these delays not only cause increased deformity and discomfort in a growing child but also lead to more complex surgery and treatment also being more costly. In a newspaper comment, he stated:

It’s counterproductive. The risks rise, complications are more likely, in some cases spinal deformity grows rapidly worse. And it’s not economically sensible. Research indicates a 15%-30% increased cost associated with correcting the more severe curves.

As the Tánaiste is aware, this has been an ongoing problem for years. In 2009, a HSE plan was brought in to eliminate waiting lists by the spring of 2012 but this has not happened. What is needed are more surgeons, extra theatre time, more specialised areas for traction, of which there are only two in Crumlin hospital. I do not know what these additional resources would cost but it would hardly break the HSE, compared with the health costs for the families and their children. This issue has been going on for too long under the radar. The families involved have stated they tried to raise this issue with the HSE but are not they getting back concrete replies. Will the Tánaiste give a commitment to these families to raise this issue with the Minister for Health in order that it be dealt with urgently? This must stop and these waiting lists must be reduced.

First, the Deputy raised the issue of telephones and cameras. I am delighted that people have lots of telephones and cameras.

The Tánaiste was not last week.

In fairness, and to correct the record, the Deputy raised what she considered to be an issue regarding Garda behaviour and monitoring of protests in respect of Irish Water. She was suggesting that the gardaí somehow were not behaving properly. I told her that in my experience of the people involved in the protest, everything is filmed and I stated it would be possible to verify any suggestions made by the Deputy, because everything is uploaded onto social media and is available there. I am delighted that this is the case. If I gave any other impression, I am very happy to correct that. I also stated that I am a keen photographer myself-----

Not with a mobile telephone.

----- which is why it is great to see that people have that kind of equipment.

The Deputy was speaking about An Garda Síochána and I simply suggested to her that all of the material was available on social media. I am glad that people are filming it because it does mean it is very clear as to what is happening.

The Tánaiste is answering last week's question.

What about the scoliosis?

Sorry, could we deal with the matter?

In respect of Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and the Deputy's question on scoliosis, she is probably aware that happily, as with social protection and the previous discussion, a lot of additional money has been allocated to the health budget, both for this year and, better still, for next year. A total of well over €800 million has been allocated, much of which will go to hospitals. The Deputy also is aware the Government has made an allocation for a significant capital investment to build a new children's hospital. I certainly know children and individuals with this condition and the Deputy's observations are correct, as it is a condition that requires long-term care and long-term monitoring, particularly when it is identified early in childhood.

I do not have to hand a detailed answer to the Deputy's question in the context of this discussion but I undertake to get information and to revert to the Deputy. However, in the context of additional expenditure of more than €800 million in health in funding for this year and for next, as well as in respect of the capital investment programme, there should be scope to improve the numbers of operations and to improve the waiting times as this is a very important factor in the treatment of growing children who have this condition. I will raise the issue raised by the Deputy with the Minister for Health and will provide her with a more detailed reply.

I thank the Tánaiste for her reply. The issue of waiting lists is a serious matter. People have been told they will be obliged to wait for more than 18 months for operations. A young girl named Shauna Franklin from New Ross has gone public in the newspapers and has requested - she actually begged - that penny-pinching health chiefs should allow her to have a life-saving operation.

She made the point that money should not be the reason she cannot have a life-transforming operation, which should be carried out sooner rather than later.

The orthopaedic consultant-population ratio is at least two times lower here than in the rest of the Western world; we have approximately one spinal surgeon for 250,000 people. In 2009, to save costs on staff and overheads, the hospital closed 25 beds and one operating theatre. These must be reopened. The consultants say they need extra theatre capacity, extra time and more surgeons in the hospital to deal with the issue. Otherwise, these lists will get longer and children will have to wait longer and suffer more, with further curvature of their spines and their conditions deteriorating. On behalf of these families, not me, I ask the Minister to raise this issue urgently with the Minister for Health to try to get it dealt with. The Minister said that more money is going into the health service. Since 2012, this Government's first budget, €1 billion has been taken out of the health service. It went from €14 billion down to €13.1 billion, but that is not the issue. Money has to be made available to deal with this issue of the patient waiting lists in Crumlin children's hospital.

Hear, hear.

The Deputy asked about a number of individual cases. She may have already tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health. If she has not, I strongly suggest she would do that because I am not able----

I am trying to answer the Deputy. I am not able to give her an answer immediately here on a case about which I have not been given some prior information but if the Deputy tables a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health, I am sure he will do his best to assist her.

For Crumlin children's hospital, as the Deputy knows, the most important point is that this country has committed to building a new, state of the art-----

Patients are waiting 18 months.

-----children's hospital as well as prioritising funding for children in the context of the spend on health in Ireland. I told the Deputy it was an extra €800 million. In terms of our population, that is a very significant increase in a budget. I do not know the detailed breakdown but I strongly anticipate that the management of Crumlin hospital, and the consultants who will be part of the management structure, will be able, with the additional resources being provided overall in health, to prioritise the children who most need assistance.

I agree with the young girl from New Ross about whom the Deputy spoke. Obviously, it is a priority for everybody in government to ensure that she gets her necessary treatment as quickly as possible. It is a difficult condition. Modern medicine has advanced enormously to be able to help people and if the Deputy gives us the details, I will have them examined. I will raise the issue with the Minister for Health, and I certainly would like to see that young girl getting whatever treatment is appropriate for her as soon as possible.