Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Is the Taoiseach aware of the significant outlay in this area at a time when we are witnessing a massive exodus of nursing professionals who are not able to access employment within the health service? What is happening to overcome difficulties within the Health Service Executive at a time when it is employing agency nurses across the board, including in the psychiatric services? The PNA has identified that the outlay is approximately 40% greater than would be the case with direct employment.

The Taoiseach is familiar with the consultant's report by Mott MacDonald on HSE west which states that the recruitment ban has created another perverse incentive to use existing highly qualified and highly paid staff to cover additional staff. Does the Taoiseach not see that this issue needs to be urgently addressed, something that the INMO itself has highlighted to him? It has also indicated that its members - nurses and midwives - are not prepared to fill the gaps created. Will the Taoiseach not reconsider the situation in regard to the recruitment ban?

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