Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Morton. Going back to the concerns about recruitment issues, Deputy Cullinane mentioned the recruitment campaign and the information we received. The report we have received under freedom of information, which is based on figures obtained over the seven years up to 1 November, show that there were 538 applications for posts of qualified paramedics. Some 405 of those applicants were invited to sit an exam, but just 75 of them, or less than 18%, passed the multiple choice exam and just 56 completed all the remaining recruitment stages and got to a panel that led to a job offer. Effectively, out of the 405 applicants, only 37, or 9%, have been offered a post in the NAS. Mr. Morton quite rightly said that some of them may be repeat individuals. We all want the best people for jobs. Does the NAS have very high standards or are our applicants not up to scratch? Why is it a multiple choice exam? If I ask what the capital of Canada is, people either know it is Ottawa or they do not. Why are applicants not just asked a question? I am not familiar with the questions and what they might be asked but why not just ask the question rather than giving multiple options? The feedback in the report from applicants is that the multiple choice questions are worded confusingly; have arguably more than one correct answer; do not provide enough clinical information to answer what is being asked; or ask questions that are outside the knowledge scope required by the PHECC. The report also states that passing the test requires considerable luck. Can the witnesses comment on those figures and on the reason for the multiple choice component?