Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will ask the Minister to revert to Deputy O'Reilly directly on that. I will address the rest of her questions as best I can, but a number of them are staffing related. I know this is her background and interest but I cannot go into that level of detail as to how many staff are apportioned to new beds and what percentage will go on staffing. These are operational matters and are done by the HSE. They are not part of my remit in the Department. If the Deputy wants to ask specific questions she can address them to me and I will ask the HSE to come back to her directly on them. I believe the HSE will come before the committee on 6 May for its quarterly update, and its representatives will be better placed to address staffing issues. They really do not come under my remit.

The Deputy sought a detailed breakdown regarding the €5 million in respect of Storm Emma but I do not have it to hand. I can ask somebody to come back to the Deputy on it. Again, it is a HSE matter. The Department will not prescribe where exactly the €5 million will go.

We have already addressed the general practitioner negotiations and the salary of general practitioners. I am not aware of what the Deputy described and would not be involved on that side of it.

On the staffing of new beds, 189 new beds have been opened but I would not be aware of the staffing arrangements for them or any future new beds. Those will be operational matters for the HSE. I am sure the HSE will answer those questions for the Deputy when its representatives appear before the committee on 7 May.

On the question on the additional €530 million, the Deputy was wondering about the proportion for additional staff. Again, I do not know. I suppose the HSE has a standard. I am not sure what it is. In any new development, I assume staffing would be accommodated but I do not know. I presume the HSE will answer that for the Deputy.