Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will pick up on some of the points from earlier in the meeting. This discussion is a great one to have directly after the meeting we had last week, which touched on some of the issues regarding staff ceilings, which is the new phrase used in place of the word "moratoriums". There was some discussion about radiation therapists and radiotherapy more generally. I have some questions on the area of cancer care.

First, I want to pick up on the discussion regarding agency staff and the 450 posts that are expected to convert. We were given varying numbers by the HSE. I asked the HSE witnesses for numbers. I do not know whether the witnesses before us have that information. I am trying to get a sense of how many agency staff across the services are suitable for the conversion process. How much of a dent in that process was made by the additional posts, whether the number is 350, 400 or whatever the HSE might be telling us it is?