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

I thank the witnesses from the HSE and the Department of Health for their attendance and for the progress that has been made. There has been a huge increase in staff. It is a question of retaining those staff right across the board.

People here may not be aware of a really difficult issue, which is to do with radiation therapists. My understanding is that there are a number of units across the country that are currently not operational because of the shortage of radiation therapists. The numbers have gone way down, which, as I understand, is to do with the salaries they are paid. They are moving on to other jobs and the numbers coming through the training system are not adequate to replace those who have left. In Cork, for instance, there is a 48% shortfall in the number of radiation therapists who should be in place. The staffing level is only half what it should be. Are people aware of this? How will we deal with this challenge? A shortage of radiation therapists means essential radiation treatments will have to be cut.