Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is very simple. Agencies are contracted to provide a specified number of hours of service. The HSE wants four hours today, 30 hours this week and so on. The hours can be added up and converted to the WTE. The HSE should know what it is paying for, although I accept that it may not be as easy as it might seem. However, we should know how many staff are involved in delivering the health service. I am not saying whether the figure is good or bad, just that we need the information.

The next item is a breakdown of all loans to section 38 organisations over the past five years, which was raised by Deputy Kelly. The HSE says that it does not provide loans but does provide cash advances.

I will let the Deputy take up the subtly of that response.