David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all those who are operating on the front line in testing and tracing in whatever capacity they serve. Whatever deficiencies, or lack of capacity in, the system are certainly is not down to them. It is a very difficult and challenging job so I take this opportunity to commend all those who are involved in that.

I want to unpack some of the numbers and, as I do so, I would say to Ms O'Beirne that I want precise answers to the questions because it is numbers I am looking for. We have the context in both the opening statement and the briefing note given by the HSE. When the briefing note from the HSE states that 581 staff are currently available to work on routine contact tracing, is that figure of 581 made up of people who are directly employed and still reassigned? Does that 581 include the 274 new staff who have been onboarded, as it is called, as part of the recruitment target of 800?