Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I will answer the Deputy's three different questions. A form of additional funding will be needed for the Department of Health at some point this year. That has been the case in previous years and I will have to work on that later in the year. On whether that can be done in such a way so as to not impact on the budgetary parameters for next year, that is what I am aiming to do. I have work to do on that and I anticipate it will take me through until September. On the degree of wasteful spending, I have had much engagement with the HSE and the Department of Health on this matter and a key factor is that a massive number of additional people have now joined the HSE and our health service over the last 12 months. Up to the end of April this year, just under 400 additional workers were recruited every month.