Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I am not suggesting that they be recruited as nurses, but the question was asked of me with regard to a shortage of the semi-skilled, as opposed to the recognised skill.

With regard to the staff in the Department, it is broken down in 2020 to 508, which was up from 475. That may well have been to do with vacancies. The offices are the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Health and Safety Authority and other offices. The agencies are, by and large, the bigger number with 1,700. What is the vacancy rate across all three? If you do not have it, will you provide it to the committee? What is the rate of people who are out sick? I am looking for the non-Covid rate. It may be that 2019 is a better example of that. Regarding maternity cover, is there a plan for maternity cover? In too many organisations there are gaps in the full complement of staff and often there is no maternity cover, sometimes in critical areas.