Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Ms Kelly said eight specialist registrars come off training each year. Can some adjustment be done so that an automatic number comes into paediatrics? My understanding is they have to do a further two years in paediatric orthopaedics once they finish the five-year training. Can that be adjusted to make it attractive for them to commence paediatrics? Can that be planned for?

Second, we were talking about theatre nurses earlier. There is huge competition for theatre nurses who have the skills and experience. Hospitals in some countries are training theatre specialists, in other words, theatre assistants. Is there any plan to introduce a programme for theatre assistants, whose job from one end of the year to the other is working in theatre only? Is that being planned now or, going forward, for the new children's hospital?