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Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says he took the unprecedented step of calling in HSE auditors when CHI failed to reassure him funding was used appropriately. Oireachtas.ie

Fund to cut children's spinal surgery wait lists was not used as intended, says Martin

Donnelly allocated the funding as part of an ambition that no child would be waiting longer than four months for scoliosis surgery.

TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has said it is clear that the majority of the €19 million fund aimed at reducing children’s spinal surgery waiting list was not used for the purpose intended by government.

In 2022, the Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly allocated an additional 19 million euros to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) with the main aim of reducing waiting lists for child orthopaedic surgeries, among other services.

However, it has since emerged that the funding was used more broadly by CHI.

Donnelly allocated the funding as part of an ambition that no child would be waiting longer than four months for scoliosis surgery.

It came after a similar pledge in 2017 when his predecessor in the role Simon Harris, now Taoiseach, set the four-month target.

During Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the promise had been “broken over and over again”.

“Immediately, both parents and patient advocates had serious concerns that Children’s Health Ireland intended to spend this money differently from the purposes that was allocated to them.”

He said parents raised their concerns multiple times, including in March 2022 – within weeks of the funding being announced.

Screenshot - 2024-07-04T120519.617 'Where is the accountability?' asks Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty.

“Shockingly, it took until February of this year for the Minister for Health to order an audit,” said Doherty. 

The Tánaiste said it was not possible to audit the use of millions of euros for child scoliosis services in the immediate weeks after it was allocated.

‘Not satisfied with answers’

In an interview with The Journal last December, Donnelly said he was “not satisfied” with the answers from CHI as to why the resources the government funded and allocated have not brought down the waiting list numbers.

Speaking in the Dáil today, Martin said CHI informed the minister that its plan would mean that by the end of 2022 the number of children waiting over four months would be reduced to zero.

“That is what CHI said to the minister and the minister funded the plan on that basis. The investment did result in an increase in the number of surgeries performed but the reduction in the waiting list was modest and was nowhere near what was promised,” said the Tánaiste.

Donnelly did engage on the matter in 2023, said the Tánaiste.

“He did not ignore the issue but engaged directly with spinal surgeons and with advocacy groups. It became clear that the additional resources of €19 million had been allocated far wider than just children’s spinal, or even children’s orthopaedic, services,” said Martin. 

The health minister said at the end of last year, he sought assurances from CHI via his department.

“We didn’t get them. I sought assurances via the board of CHI. We didn’t get them. And I then took the unprecedented step of instructing the chief executive the HSE to send in the HSE internal auditors,” said Donnelly.

“It is an absolute scandal. Where is the accountability?” Doherty asked, stating that children were being “forced to suffer in agony without any light at the end of the tunnel” as he accused the health minister of ignoring their pleas.

“These patients, these advocates, these parents reached out to Minister Donnelly and his office over and over and over and over again.

“They told him that this money wasn’t going to be spent on the promise that he gave them and their children. They pleaded with him to investigate this matter two years ago,” said the Sinn Féin deputy.

The Tanaiste said the government’s commitment “is to do everything we possibly can as quickly as we can to reduce waiting lists for children waiting for scoliosis operations”.

Doherty said the within weeks of the money being allocated, the parents and the advocates were telling the minister’s office that this money was not going where it is needed.

“They were begging them to investigate this,” said Doherty, accusing the minister of “doing nothing”.

“Because two years later, you still don’t know where this money is gone,” said Doherty.

Donnelly described the remarks from the Sinn Fein benches as “nonsense” and “totally disingenuous”, adding that he had met families many times.

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    Mute Gareth Wogan
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    Jul 4th 2024, 4:46 PM

    A truly horrible state of affairs. The guy is now Taoiseach. Here’s money for treatment. No no, it’ll be misused. Follow the paper trail. Fire those involved. It’s not difficult. Yet, they still win most seats in the recent election. An utter farce. Three children with scoliosis are in serious pain daily. They don’t care.

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    Mute Wolfgang Bonow
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    Jul 4th 2024, 6:32 PM

    @Gareth Wogan: It’s easy to blame “The Government” for everything – and yes, they have took take a lot of blame.
    A lot of the public services, state owned ore partly state owned institution, are like a swamp. Money is getting re-assigned from from department to another, just to make the “books” look different. Now try bring someone independent in there to figure out this mess, when most people in charge of budgeting are in the game.
    On top of it, you have unions. They do a lot of good work, no doubt, but often they throw a spanner in these investigations\assessments as well.

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    Mute Pat Hazzard
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    Jul 4th 2024, 9:08 PM

    @Gareth Wogan: all the fault of CHI, not the executive

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    Mute Brian
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    Jul 4th 2024, 11:56 PM

    @Pat Hazzard: Any suggestions then as to what the Exacutive should do in this situation where the hospital has misappropriated funds? Or is that above your lackey remit ?

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    Mute Mick McGuinness
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    Jul 4th 2024, 5:40 PM

    All hospitals should be audited by Revenue to see where money is going. If not going where intended sack the head of Finance for God’s sake, when is anyone in authority going be held responsible. Is it a case of RTE all over again.

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    Mute Michael o connor
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    Jul 4th 2024, 8:12 PM

    @Mick McGuinness: like they did in RTE? sure there practically turning a blind eye to tonthe false self employment status of most of the workers.

    39
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    Mute David Cotter
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    Jul 4th 2024, 4:50 PM

    Absolutely scandalous…the way Donnelly talks as if it someone else’s fault.
    Classic deflection an old politburo trick..
    He supposed to be the minister, listening to this he’s junior officer from fisheries accounts outa castletownbeara

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    Mute Pat Hazzard
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    Jul 4th 2024, 9:16 PM

    @David Cotter: it is clearly the fault of the CHI, as Government gave them the money they requested.

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    Mute Feargal De Cantuin
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    Jul 4th 2024, 11:06 PM

    @David Cotter: that would be Castletownbere or Berehaven. Also a red herring.

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    Mute Colette Byrne
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    Jul 5th 2024, 5:34 AM

    @Pat Hazzard: Easy to pass the ball, while children suffer immense pain on a daily basis, children who already have other complex needs, missing out on education, friends, etc, having to go through 11 hour operations, to try correct curvature well over 100° when many able body kids get operated on before the spinal curve get to 45° so it’s also discrimination. Yet this government refuses to enact all protocols of The UNCRPD.
    So people with disabilities will continue to be second class citizens and go unrecognised by this government and their human rights will continue to be abused. Who ever makes excuses for these abuses, is also responsible for what happens to these kids and adults who have been neglected by the state.

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    Mute John Reynolds
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    Jul 5th 2024, 10:02 AM

    @Pat Hazzard: so who was responsible and will these be the same as the bankers rte and the numerous other scandals with no accountability the accountability part is the governments fault

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    Mute The next small thing
    Favourite The next small thing
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    Jul 4th 2024, 5:42 PM

    So CHI were given the amount they sought to get rid of the waiting list and they blew it on something else. The head of CHI must now be removed by the government to show that they will take the theft of taxpayers seriously (and no golden handshake, either fire or, if they do want to stay in the role, a full refund of the money). Blaming the government is too easy as regardless who forms the government they will have to deal with the same officials.

    190
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    Mute Matt D
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    Jul 4th 2024, 4:56 PM

    Mother of God I literally feel sick at the way this govt treats its most vulnerable citizens. It’s almost like they’d prefer if they were to die so they wouldn’t have to bother with them. Shameful.

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    Mute paul ruddell
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    Jul 4th 2024, 5:20 PM

    @Matt D: kinda similar to mental health crisis. No money to be made from suicide. Waiting nearly 2 years to be seen. Be handier for them if we died alright. Sometimes I think it’s what they hope for. Judging by their actions or lack of.

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Jul 4th 2024, 5:07 PM

    I hope those that voted for these schisters are proud of themselves also those who couldn’t be arsed to vote, FFG just love yous.

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    Mute Patricia Carolan Byrne
    Favourite Patricia Carolan Byrne
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    Jul 4th 2024, 7:08 PM

    I had this surgery in the late 70s. I waited 2 weeks. Now with more money in the country I am waiting 5 years for an appointment as an adult.

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Jul 4th 2024, 5:50 PM

    Horrendous. Little children suffer and they shrug it off. Ahh well let’s keep voting these guys in. No accountability what so ever.

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    Mute Bryan
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    Jul 4th 2024, 5:59 PM

    Hold the front page! Taxpayers money not used for it’s original purpose. The slap on the wrist the people responsible for this will get, will ensure lessons will be learned in the future.

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Jul 4th 2024, 6:07 PM

    What a disgraceful state of affairs, typical of this government, money frittered away in every direction but not where it is needed most.
    Our health is our wealth and our so called leaders don’t give a to$$ about our health. They would rather pump it endlessly into Cabbage Head projects than on the health of our most valuable assets….. Our Children.
    Shame on you HSE and CHI.
    Shame on you Ministers of Health
    Shame on you Ministers for Children.!!!

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    Mute Padraic O' Sullivan
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    Jul 4th 2024, 6:43 PM

    Why not hauled in front of PAC?
    Pulling appropriately timed sickies shouldn’t be allowed either.

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    Mute Terry Molloy
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    Jul 4th 2024, 7:52 PM

    Why oh why do people vote for FFg, when what they told you was never achieved. Honda fifty and sunroof come to mind!

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jul 4th 2024, 7:35 PM

    What would you expect from the HSE. Hopeless Sodding. Eejits.

    39
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    Mute Margaret Gallagher
    Favourite Margaret Gallagher
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    Jul 4th 2024, 8:20 PM

    As slap on the wrist is just waste of time When will someone anyone in our state supported charities hospitals housing associa be held responsible fir this appalling waste U L comes to mind ? Peter mc Verry ….No need to name and shame these organisations feel no shame Just keep getting g bailed out How many charities funded handsomely by our government still hold out begging bowls and never get audited? lists please Alot of chances hiding in plain sight And they also love to divert the blame to” the government ” Ironic and corrupt

    33
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    Mute SV3tN8M4
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    Jul 4th 2024, 9:36 PM

    @Margaret Gallagher: Peter Mc Verry Trust should be wound up, you don’t hear or see him on TV as much these days. Another scandal swept under the carpet, no surprise an RTE favourite, birds of a feather & all that.

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    Mute Paddy Short
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    Jul 4th 2024, 10:20 PM

    This is what FFG voters are enabling, octogenarians on trolleys in corridors and 8 year old’s suffering needlessly with excruciating back pain, 24 hours a day, for years on end. Shameful.

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    Mute Kieran Menon
    Favourite Kieran Menon
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    Jul 4th 2024, 6:13 PM

    AI would run and handle funding of this Government better than these charlatans.

    41
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    Mute SV3tN8M4
    Favourite SV3tN8M4
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    Jul 4th 2024, 9:31 PM

    No point telling us how they have failed the Children with Scoliosis, Micheal Martin, Simon Harris, Leo Varadkar, Eamonn Ryan & especially Stephen Donnelly are all responsible as they are in charge, no excuses, each one of you are responsible for the pain & further curvature these children have suffered through delays, incompetence & a lack of responsibility by those in power. None of you have any shame & couldn’t give a shit about Children with Scoliosis, you are the lowest form of human beings, despicable liars & bs artists.

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    Mute ahhhhh Ted...... Tubridys going into comedy
    Favourite ahhhhh Ted...... Tubridys going into comedy
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    Jul 4th 2024, 10:43 PM

    Once upon a time the government would have collapsed……

    20
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    Mute Colette Byrne
    Favourite Colette Byrne
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    Jul 5th 2024, 5:16 AM

    Why isn’t the ceo sacked, why are the board at Chi told to step down. Why is there radio silence on the consultant at the front of this scandal. Where is the investigation into the springs used? It’s time CHI answered all these questions.that 19 million was ring fenced for kids with spina bifida who also have scoliosis, these are the most neglected in the health service, where their conditions then become complex many inoperable. The board and chair of CHI need to be gone, did bad job when in tallaght too.
    Donnelly knows well these are time sensitive cases, and sat on his hands, parents, etc, begging for answers while the children suffer daily in pain.

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    Mute Robert Halvey
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    Jul 4th 2024, 7:29 PM

    Mehole a ff lackey that 15 % of the country election put ff in control of Cork, I hope on Sunday limerick slap your everliving

    23
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    Mute Robert Halvey
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    Jul 5th 2024, 2:05 AM

    If we keep voting for ffg what do you expect

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Jul 5th 2024, 1:49 AM

    Dear god this is just wrong at so many levels!! My heart goes out to all the kids who need this and yet we play silly politics when it comes to looking after our kids

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    Mute Desmond Buckley
    Favourite Desmond Buckley
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    Jul 5th 2024, 3:15 PM

    The government should be ashamed of themselves for godsake cut through all the red tape and get these kids the help they need now today, not tomorrow or any more of your promises do your jobs and stop all the spin absolutely horrendous how they are defending there position.

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