Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has said that the parents of children in need of life changing surgeries should not have to take to the media for Taoiseach Simon Harris to listen to them.

Deputy Cullinane was responding to the Taoiseach’s failure to meet with advocacy groups of children with scoliosis and spina bifida, four months after committing to do so.

Teachta Cullinane said:

“Once again we are seeing parents of children with scoliosis and spina bifida having to take to the media to tell the story of their children waiting for years for life changing surgeries, and sending open letters to Taoiseach Simon Harris demanding that he take action.

“They are very angry at what they are seeing from Simon Harris.

“Despite a promise that he made seven years ago that no child would have to wait more than four months for surgeries, all they have got since is soundbites but no action.

“It is simply not good enough. This is a Taoiseach who was Minister for Health who made a promise that he broke.

“It is now four months since he made a commitment to meet with parents and advocacy groups and he hasn’t done so.

“That is an absolute disgrace, as more and more children wait in agony for care.

“He needs to deliver on that promise and meet with the advocacy groups but he also needs to do more to ensure that children get the surgeries, pre-operative and post-operative care that they need.

“These children deserve better. These children deserve a Taoiseach and a government that will deliver the healthcare that they need.

“There can be no more soundbites from Simon Harris. We need the life changing surgeries that these children were promised.”