Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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We need to focus on the number of full-time salaries being paid, which is 116,000, up from 103,000. Obviously, lifestyle is an issue and some staff choose to work half-time or part-time such that it takes two or three people to fill a whole-time equivalent post. That is the difference we are trying to highlight. We must keep control of the narrative: the figure has not increased from 103,000 to 135,000. We must ensure that there is clarity on the number of full-time weekly salaries being paid, which is 116,000. That is probably the best figure to use because people are entitled to job share and it is an option which is being increasingly availed of by staff and accommodated by the HSE. However, we do not want that to be used to distort the change.

The Deputy asked where the positions are being filled. Many of the positions must be filled in the front line where we are constantly struggling. Obviously, there is also an administrative aspect. We should note the very significant annual increases in the number of procedures being carried out by the HSE and the number of people going through the system. Those are probably the measures at which we should be looking rather than the number of people employed in the healthcare system.