Ms Magdalen Rogers:

Nationwide, we highlighted at the start of our campaign a shortage of over 100 specialist nurses in neurology services. Following the very successful campaign that we ran with the support of members of this committee and other elected representatives, we had 23 funded as part of the campaign, but if we take into account other initiatives within neurology services and the development of specialist pathways, we have had over 30 new specialist nurse posts created in 2023. It is important to note, and I thank the Deputy for pointing it out, that this just brings us to a little over half of the specialist nurses that are needed, and that is just to meet minimum requirements in the Irish health system.