Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that the issue of children waiting for orthopaedic surgeries is not due to a lack of funding.
Mr Martin was questioned in the Dáil about 11-year-old Ava Cahill from Tallaght in Dublin, who is one of 56 children waiting for corrective surgery to address spina bifida.
It was "unacceptable" that children have to wait so long for procedures, the Taoiseach said.
He said that additional funding has been made available for waiting lists at Dublin's Crumlin, Temple Street and Cappagh Hospitals.
"For 2022, €350m has been made available for improving waiting times and that includes €150m to the National Treatment Purchase Fund," the Taoiseach said.
"So whatever immediate capacity issues can be developed, should be developed because the funding is there to do it."
Mr Martin said he has sought a meeting with Children's Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE in relation to this issue.
He said that anything that has to be done for children who need urgent surgery, should be done.
He was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald who said hundreds of children are waiting years for life changing orthopaedic surgery.
She said some children are now inoperable waiting for a surgery which they are entitled to have.
She said the potential for some children "is being destroyed" and the situation was leading to "incredible mental distress for families".
Deputy McDonald called on Government to act today to end the agony for these children and ensure they have the life changing procedures they need.
She asked why the Government had not provided the €5m necessary to clear the waiting lists.
The funding request had been with the Minister for Health for two years, she said, adding that she wanted a commitment from the Taoiseach that the money required would be released as a matter of urgency.
Deputy McDonald said there were operation rooms lying idle in Cappagh and the surgeons were there.
Deputy McDonald said children should not have to display their tears on national TV to get the health care they are entitled to.
The Taoiseach said the funding has been given to the HSE and that funding was not an excuse.
He said the HSE and the CHI should get on with it and get it done.
