Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Very good.

I have mentioned the local authorities. Is the Taoiseach also aware of the impact it is having on our health services? In particular is he aware that over the next three years if the current recruitment embargo is to remain in place we will lose a further 6,000 posts? We will have a further 6,000 unfilled posts as a result of that embargo over the next three years if it is to remain in place as it is currently employed. Is the Taoiseach aware that more than 40% of front-line nursing staff are over the age of 50 years, which of itself must underscore the importance of a revisitation of this very blunt instrument? We will see an already chaotic position become utterly calamitous right across health service provision both in terms of acute hospital networks and all the other service provision within the primary community and continuing care end of the HSE's responsibilities.

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