Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No. The chief executive is better placed to speak on this. There is a strategy where we will be taking on an additional 1,000 extra staff across the health service this year, including many extra nurses. We can see that in the nursing numbers already. There is a requirement, however, that our hospitals only hire those they are funded to hire. It is just like schools and every other part of our public services. There are more nurses this year than last year. There will continue to be more.