The Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has accused Tánaiste Simon Harris of providing “grossly inaccurate” statistics in relation to the waiting lengths for scoliosis surgery in the weeks prior to the last general election and has called for clarity on the matter.
Speaking today, Deputy Tóibín said: “In a television interview on 13th November 2024 Simon Harris defended his record on the issue of scoliosis. He said that when he left the Department of Health the number of children waiting more than four months for surgery had been reduced to 35. Those figures, provided some two weeks before the General Election, were not accurate”.
“Simon Harris left the Department of Health on 27th June 2020. However, we can see in response to a Parliamentary Question that Childrens’ Health Ireland stated on 26th June 2020 a total of 177 children were waiting for scoliosis surgery, 90 of whom were waiting longer than six months, and 138 of whom were waiting longer than three months, with no breakdown provided on the exact number waiting longer than four months”.
“It is not acceptable that the Taoiseach of the country would go on national TV just two weeks before the general election and provide false information in relation to the crisis of waiting lists. He now needs to come out and correct the record on this matter”, concluded Tóibín.
