James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy knows the service plan will be produced and it must come to me within 21 days of the Estimates. That means it will come to me on St. Stephen's Day, or de facto the end of this week. We have had a number of meetings about the issue, with the most recent last night. My colleagues, the Ministers of State, Deputies White and Kathleen Lynch, and I have been actively engaged in the process. As the Deputy notes, we want a very transparent methodology this year in order we can measure what is happening.

Last year I asked that there would be two-weekly and monthly reporting of financial parameters but that did not happen. It will happen this year. Through several reports, the latest being the Ogden report, we have also identified the deficiencies that lie within the HSE's financial reporting mechanisms. The PA Consulting report set out to confirm this and identify a remedy, which has come about. We have put in place six senior experienced individuals in the financing area, as it was shocking to tell the Dáil that only approximately 10% of people dealing with the finances of the HSE had specific financial training. Is it any wonder we find ourselves in the current position?

I will specifically mention JobBridge for nurses, which is an excellent development that offers the opportunity for nurses who have trained here to stay here and continue training. It will also offer an opportunity to further the experience of these new nurses. I would like to see similar opportunities afforded to people who have studied physiotherapy. These people gained 550 points in the leaving certificate and have done four years in Trinity College, but many cannot find a job when they graduate and are unable to set up a practice on their own. If they could be given a couple of years experience, they would be fit to go into primary care where we need them badly.

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