Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is acknowledged in the initial reply that HSE management has a responsibility to ensure adequate provisions in terms of staffing at each of the four units based in County Wexford, namely, the one in Wexford town, and the centres in Gorey, Enniscorthy and New Ross, which is the subject of the current debate. The recruitment of nurses in this country is proving challenging in general. I note that all of the 11 nursing graduates this year have been offered full-time employment in the mental health services in the Waterford and Wexford areas, which is to be welcomed. In addition, advertisements continue to be placed both nationally and internationally to attract some of the nurses who qualified and possibly worked in this country back here so that we can enhance services in this country. I recognise that the matter raised is of genuine concern and I will undertake to relay the concerns outlined to the Minister.

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