Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Joan Collins for that. Nobody will disagree with her in relation to recruitment and retention and the challenges there. Previous Governments may not have the funding, but there are 700 whole-time equivalent staff who are now funded for disability services. There are approximately 400 who are funded for mental services and who are currently going through the recruitment phase. It is very frustrating when there are teams on the ground that are not fully staffed because of the recruitment and retention issue.

Regarding the piece the Deputy raised, we train people in this country to a very high standard. I know many people decide to go abroad, which they are entitled to do. The question the Deputy has raised is a conversation we are going to have to have at some stage in relation to whether we should be encouraging people to stay for two years or four years after training. It is certainly there in the background the whole time, whether that should be done. I will allow Mr. Higgins to come in because they are doing a bit of work on this recruitment and retention piece.