Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The numbers are moving between 21, 22 and 23. RACO's figures last month were between 18 and 20. Does the Minister stand over his figure of 22 doctors?

A mechanism often used by State services when short of professionals is to provide university scholarships to attract applicants. An applicant, when qualified, would then give a specific length of service to the State service sponsor. Such a scheme would not require people to contract for life to the Army. With such a contractual arrangement, a certain number of doctors will come on-stream in the Army on an ongoing basis.

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