Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Donnelly; and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I have been following this remotely and I will have to go again shortly because I am due in the Dáil Chamber. It is one of those mornings juggling a few things.

This week marks the first meeting of this health committee since the winding back of restrictions. Many times in this forum we have thanked and paid tribute to our nurses, doctors, vaccinators and front-line staff. We should also pay tribute to the Minister and Ministers of State, as well as departmental officials. In the months to come we will be judged on two elements; how the economy was managed through the Covid-19 pandemic but, far more important, how the health service was managed. Nothing was perfect and I will not whitewash things this morning but a damn good job was done collectively in this country to manage us through those past two really miserable years.

A sum of €1.58 was million allocated for the recruitment of 24 additional lactation consultants. Is there any information on that or has the money been spent? When is it envisaged that all those positions will be filled?