Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a result, zero people were waiting for beds yesterday. I needed to say that. The direct answer to the Deputy's question is that we need to get from three to 20 beds. I intend to make more progress on that in the budget.

On recruitment, all of this has to be seen in context. Sometimes, the debate in the House is a little skewed. There is not a ban on recruitment to the health service. Some 2,200 more people net will work in the health service - it will probably be more but 2,200 have been funded - at the end of this year than last year. That is true. That does not include disability services. The figure goes up to more than 3,000, if disability services are included. Within the budget relating to this area, the HSE needs to make decisions as to where to direct that investment on the front line. I will specifically talk to the Minister for Health about the importance of this area.

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