Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1964.To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the €19 million that was spent by Children's Health Ireland's chiefs; the way this occurred without his knowledge, permission and or consultation with others (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30920/24]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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2281.To ask the Minister for Health the action he is taking following recent reports that parents of children with spina bifida and scoliosis sent a dossier to HSE auditors outlining concerns over alleged anomalies in how a €19 million fund for children’s spinal surgeries was spent by the children’s hospital group; the steps being taken to ensure that children in need of urgent spina bifida and scoliosis surgical intervention will not be further disadvantaged by this use of the funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32261/24]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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2390.To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 421 of 10 July 2024, the timeline for completion of the internal audit review into the allocation of €19 million to Children’s Health Ireland to tackle waiting lists for scoliosis and spina bifida; the date at which he expects to receive the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32858/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1964, 2281 and 2390 together.

I acknowledge that waiting lists for scoliosis and spina bifida services are unacceptably long. In February 2022, €19 million was committed to seek to address the Scoliosis and Spina Bifida waiting lists, conscious of the significant burden these conditions place on children and their families.

The plan brought together funding previously allocated and identified, along with additional funding sourced through the Waiting List Action Plan, in order to create a coherent strategic plan aimed at improving the Scoliosis and Spina Bifida spinal services provided in Children's Health Ireland (CHI).

This investment has funded a fifth operating theatre in Temple Street, a second MRI in Crumlin, and additional beds. The investment has supported a significant increase in the number of paediatric spinal procedures carried out in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, 509 spinal procedures were carried out, and in 2023, 464 spinal procedures were carried out, compared to 380 for the same period in 2019. This represents a 34% increase and a 22% increase respectively compared to 2019. While waiting lists remain too long it is important to acknowledge that our healthcare workers have delivered an increase in the number of procedures being carried out.

At the end of 2023, following the implementation of the majority of the additional capacity, and having consulted with patient groups and clinicians, I instructed my officials to seek assurances from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and CHI that the funding allocated was being utilised as intended. The response received was not satisfactory. For this reason, in February this year, I requested the HSE to have their internal audit team review the allocation of the €19 million in the context of what it was allocated to achieve. I am currently awaiting the final report of this review.