Mr. Paul Reid:

I will quote the same figures and there are further figures that I can supply. The number of expected interventions in respect of scoliosis has been significantly ramped up. I will make two quick comments with regard to the Deputy's points on maternity cover and staff morale. I am with the Deputy in respect of staff morale. One of the priorities on which I have led personally since joining the HSE is, with my leadership team, to work and engage with staff to improve staff morale. It is not always a matter of finance; it is also about the pressures staff are under every day. We need to give them support and confidence.

There are arrangements in place with regard to maternity cover. As the Deputy knows, we arrange agency cover, which comes at a significant cost to us. A large proportion of our agency spend goes on maternity cover. Approximately 35% of workers in the HSE are on various types of reduced hours or reduced working arrangements. This is largely because the greater proportion of our staff are women. We should support that and I encourage such support but it does result in a demand for agency support. There is provision for maternity cover within the various settings.