Minister of State for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, revealed that she felt her job was being made more difficult by the fact that her portfolio currently resides with the Department of Health

In December last year, the Health Service Executive (HSE) South submitted the proposals seeking permission from Cork City Council to build a five-storey extension to the existing paediatric unit at the hospital.

She said that the staff at the MUH ED “couldn’t have been nicer” during what was an extremely traumatic experience for her son.

Cork members of the recently established Families Unite for Services and Support (Fuss) will march on Grand Parade on Saturday, June 11.

It comes as thousands of young people across the country prepare to sit their Leaving Certificate Examinations on Wednesday, June 8.

The ICHA said that the figures, particularly the child waiting lists, were of “extreme concern”.

“Ireland is a cold, cruel place for people with disabilities and carers,” Julie Anne Cunneen wrote in her census form.

Orla Christian’s son Michael, from Blarney, better known as ‘Superman — Michael’s Little Steps’ on social media, was born with a rare genetic condition called L1cam syndrome and aqueduct stenosis, which resulted in him suffering from hydrocephalus

About 150 people attended the meeting which was the first of 39 such meetings scheduled over the coming months.

While Children Disability Network Teams were set up to facilitate greater access to services such as nursing, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy for children with complex needs - parents in Cork have claimed that this is far from the reality of the situation. Darragh Bermingham reports

Some physiotherapists have opted to speak out after seeing firsthand issues such as pointed toes and physical development delays.

Most recent figures available show 641 children and young adults on waiting lists in Cork.

As things stand, the HSE compiles audiology waiting lists into one area — South Lee — because that is the location of audiology services in Cork and Kerry.

Of the 18,331 children awaiting therapy in the Cork Kerry region, by a significant margin, the largest number of children, 7,026, is awaiting speech and language therapy

A Cork volunteer from the charity was recently contacted by a young girl with an ongoing illness who said she was only allowed to see one designated adult a day and was lonely

The young boy from Whitechurch has faced a number of delays for urgent surgeries

Ireland's only children’s hospice, LauraLynn has announced it plans to establish an on-the-ground presence in Cork, bringing services closer to home for children with palliative care needs and their families in the Munster region.

MORE than 7,500 children were awaiting outpatient appointments at hospitals in Cork at the end of last month, with around a third of them waiting at least 12 months to be seen.

THE Taoiseach has announced children’s shoes will soon be available to purchase by appointment.

A CORK consultant has witnessed an increase in the volume of presentations of children with physical symptoms that are caused by anxiety since the beginning of the pandemic.

A CALL from a distressed youth who was left without any human contact for 14 days due to Covid-19 has prompted serious concern from Childline.

The ISPCC's Childline listening service answered 723 contacts from children on Christmas Day and night. Issues raised included Covid-19 restrictions, mental health difficulties, and family tension.

Dr David Mullane says the success of CUH paediatric services is down to the staff’s dedication to their young patients and their families