Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha:

Again, and Mr. Dunne can answer on this as well, the numbers of public health nurses who are trained every year range between 129 and 140. It needs to be far greater than that but Dublin, and retaining public health nurses working in specific areas of Dublin, is becoming really difficult. It is because the workload, as Mr. Dunne said, the nursing measurement, is based on a 1966 circular. To be eligible for public health nursing services, you have to have a medical card or have that status bestowed on you by the Minister. In reality, that figure has gone far beyond what the measurement of public health nurses was based on so it is not possible to provide any service. Then, when you are working in an area like that where you are constantly working short and constantly working beyond your hours, it is not possible to retain people.