I wish the Ceann Comhairle and everyone else a happy Christmas.

Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital put a plan in place for orthopaedic surgery, especially for children with scoliosis, spina bifida and other conditions. The new plan put in place by Mr. Connor Green and his team estimates they will be able to increase output by approximately 400%. There are 100 children on their waiting list. I heard the Tánaiste and the previous Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, say in the House and in many an interview that they were going to solve this problem once and for all. That was three, four, five and six years ago. There are children who have been waiting for three, four and five years in acute pain. We have the HSE draft plan for 2022. In fairness to the current Minister for Health, he said changes can be made as it is a draft plan. Will the Government make sure funding is given to take those children out of the pain and misery they have endured over the past three, four and five years?

I thank the Deputy. On behalf of the Government, I reiterate that reducing the scoliosis waiting list and the spinal surgery waiting list is a priority for Government. It is important to say the HSE's service plan for 2022 has not yet been approved or published. The HSE is aware of the level of priority the Government, and indeed all parties, attach to this issue. The Minister for Health will shortly bring the service plan to Government for approval. The plan will include very significant investment in 2022 to increase scoliosis surgery capacity at Cappagh Kids, Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals.

The HSE has received a number of specific proposals from Children's Health Ireland on scoliosis and will be in a position to fund these proposals. The full details will be confirmed in the service plan when it is published. The Minister recently met scoliosis clinicians and patient advocates to discuss this with them, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, wished me to re-emphasise that he is allocating €22.2 billion next year for health. That is the largest budget for health in the history of the State. It is probably 50% greater than it was only a few years ago. However, as I have learned in trying to deal with that issue, both as Minister for Health and as Taoiseach, it is not just about money. The money will be allocated for these developments in these three hospitals but as we will all find out, it is not just a matter of money. Sadly, it is much more complicated than that.

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. If the HSE and successive Governments have been aware of the situation over the past number of years, as they should have been, it is very unusual the HSE would leave this out of a draft plan. The Tánaiste is correct that money does not always solve everything but if somebody like Mr. Green and his team put a draft plan together to increase output by 400% then surely they are held to account if that is not done. I ask that the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health make sure the funding is put in there. It is not just about one part of the country. There are affected children waiting right around the country. If we can resolve this issue by taking them out of pain with this proposal, and there are 100 on the Cappagh list alone, I urge the Tánaiste and the Minister to put the funding in place to resolve it.

If this was simply a matter of money, political will or compassion, it would have been solved a long time ago. I know of the major efforts that have been made in recent years to improve the situation, whether it is sending children to Germany and England, or new theatres and additional funding. There are periods during which it has been improved, and waiting lists have been shortened, but then things go backwards again. That is, unfortunately, the problem and the situation we have been in for a very long time. The difficulty often relates to finding skilled medical and non-medical staff willing to do this work and to continue to do it for years on end. That has also been a real difficulty.

As I said, the HSE service plan is only in draft form. I can confirm it will include very significant investment to increase scoliosis surgeries at Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital and the Children's Health Ireland hospitals at Temple Street and Crumlin. I hope the HSE and those hospitals are able to spend that money next year because they will have it.

This is quite a remarkable event. It is the second time this week that we have concluded Leaders' Questions in the allocated time. Before proceeding to Questions on Promised Legislation, I will avail of the opportunity, since this is the last sitting of 2021 and it has been an inordinately difficult and challenging year for many of the people whom we have the great privilege to represent, to thank the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, members of the Government, leaders of the Opposition and all the Members for their unfailing courtesy and co-operation in the course of the year. I urge them all to take some downtime and time off during Christmas. Maybe those Deputies who never turn off their phones when they come to the Chamber might consider turning them off for a few hours over Christmas before they have to be surgically removed.

On behalf of Members, I extend our gratitude and respect to the Clerk of the Dáil and his Clerk Assistant, Elaine Gunn, who is with us in the Chamber, and to all the members of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service who are unfailingly helpful and supportive to us. I also thank Teresa Doolan, who is doing a superb job as Superintendent of the Houses, and all her staff of ushers who are unfailingly helpful and courteous. I cannot end without mentioning Darren Brady and John Walsh, their catering section team - I may make more use of the catering section than many Members - and the inimitable Julie Lyons. They deliver a fantastic service to all Members.

I acknowledge the work done by the press corps in the course of the year and the great support we all get from the political staff who work in the Houses. Guím Nollaig shona bheannaithe oraibh ar fad.