Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

What I am getting at is the key vacancies that exist in front-line services. I met the INMO recently to discuss some of the gaps in its services in terms of workforce staffing levels not being adhered to in previous agreements. The representatives mentioned not having security staff at accident and emergency department doors at night for example. They mentioned that when it comes to administrators and managers, if something has to be purchased, it has to go through five or six different decision makers. What is the Department's role in ensuring that when recruitment is taking place, it is in critical front-line services and where there are gaps in the services, as opposed to just adding more administration and bureaucracy to the systems? That is a critical issue for this country.

Many people would say we are heavy on administrators and seriously lacking in front-line services. Does the Department have a key role in trying to turn the dial on that?