John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)

I requested the figures in light of the retirement of approximately 60 service workers by the end of February and the rising waiting lists for elective procedures at Waterford Regional Hospital that will inevitably follow the closure of two operating theatres. I have been advised that staff shortages will also lead to the closure of a further 30 beds.

Thousands of health graduates have left Ireland since the introduction of the moratorium yet the HSE has increased the amount of money spent on agency workers by 75% over the past three years. Between March and October 2010 alone it spent €67 million on temporarily filling full-time posts, including 167 non-consultant hospital doctors and 489 agency health care assistants.

May I ask the Minister the following question?

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