Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

Question 60: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing posts unfilled at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of qualified nurses who were offered permanent posts in the acute hospital service during 2004; if her attention has been drawn to warnings from the INO that the number of vacancies would rise to 2,000 over the next 18 months; the steps being taken to deal with the shortage of nurses; if her attention has further been drawn to concerns expressed that further hospital beds may have to be closed later in 2005 due to the shortage of nurses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15481/05]

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