Mr. Damian Ginley:

With regard to the census figures, that means that from January 2023 to July 2024, there has been an increase of two whole-time equivalents on the ground. That is the impact. It is similar in our diagnostics departments. One Dublin hospital has been down five staff since December last as a result of the suppression of posts. That department has informed us it was down a further three staff since January, which means it is now down eight staff. In the 18 months from January 2023 to July 2024, we have had an increase of 34 staff within the 52 diagnostic centres. That is the scale of the challenge facing us. The resultant impact is that work ultimately ends up privatised or sent to the private sector. Private providers deliver some of the services that should be offered within the public system. Any case deemed complex ultimately comes back to the public system anyhow.