Over the past two years, the waiting list for children's audiology services in CHO 7 at the Russell Centre in Tallaght has been allowed to double. There are now 5,800 children on the waiting list. The response I received from the HSE specifically states that staff vacancies left unfilled due to the HSE recruitment freeze have led to these high numbers. Does the Tánaiste agree that the HSE recruitment freeze is only making the waiting list longer? Does he have any date for when this ban will be lifted? In respect of positions like this, we are talking about vulnerable children in need of audiology services. This issue affects so much of their lives. The waiting list is out of control and this is clearly a problem. Can the Tánaiste look into it?

I do not accept that the current embargo, as it is called, has caused this issue because 28,000 extra people have been recruited into the health service since 2020. One has to wonder why specific healthcare professional categories were not recruited with the same success as other categories have been. I have recently asked for data on audiologists because, as the Deputy knows, there are now significant increases in the number of places in third-level colleges to increase the training places for a whole range of therapists.

I thank the Tánaiste.

I will refer this matter to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly-----

Some children have been waiting for two years.

I accept the Deputy's overall point. It is not good enough. This is a very serious discipline.