Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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Before I bring in Deputy Durkan again, I want to take up a point Deputy O'Connell made. I refer to the issue of recruitment embargoes or freezes or to the practice of only employing staff within available resources or budget allocations. It can be counter-intuitive that by limiting staff or freezing recruitment, money is saved. Of course money is saved in one budgetary silo but patients generally do not go away and, therefore, if they are not getting service, they will either get it elsewhere in the emergency department or they will deteriorate and require more complex treatment when they eventually get treatment. If there is a limitation on staffing levels, that does not necessarily mean money is being saved. Money may just be transferred to a different budget that providers for more urgent or complex treatment instead. We have been looking at workforce planning in recent months and we have had many different groups before the committee. The consistent message from all of them is that failing to recruit or staff to an appropriate level is costing additional money and no money is being saved. Does the Minister of State have a view on that?