Mr. Tony O'Brien:

The €35 million was intended to fund recruitment to fill 409 mental health posts. However, the recruitment process was not capable of putting all of the staff in posts sufficiently early to be able to absorb the €35 million in pay costs. In part, this was because the overall headcount reduction required last year meant the position taken was that progress needed to be seen on the downward trend in the existing headcount before recruitment could commence for these posts. Inevitably, this meant the posts would not be filled by year end. There was what is known as a time-related saving with regard to these posts. In other words, the money provided was sufficient for the full year cost but the full-year cost of the staff did not arise. The money was used in mental health services but not for these posts.