Dr. Maura Pidgeon:

If I can add to that, this is one of the areas that is clearly a target for additional resources. It is simply the sheer volume of applications coming in and the ability to do even the initial identification of a shortage of documents. This is one of the areas that the working group, which includes our partners and colleagues from the employers and their agents, is drilling into in terms of working together to address this issue. In addition to targeting the backlog that has built up, another requirement is to work with employers if they wish to identify somebody and help applicants in the application process while they are overseas. It is complex. We have provided additional and more simplified information in that respect, but the issue is to work with them in identifying that before the forms even come in. They are two elements of trying to deal with the backlog over time.

I will respond to Deputy Healy's questions. To add to my response in respect of the staffing issues, it was 11 staff out of 51 that had left in the first six months of this year. The process of recruitment is in hand. There are internal mechanisms because there have been some promotional grades available, an opportunity for staff within the organisation, so it will be dealt with by the end of this month. We are working closely with the Department of Health and the HSE in respect of utilising the Public Appointments Service as well as HSE deployment in order to select and recruit staff into the organisation. That is in hand. Further meetings, even tomorrow, on the logistics of getting additional staff into the organisation are taking place.