Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, the health service must be cognisant of its budget. I am sure many areas of the public service need more front-line staff. I am aware that the public service went through an extraordinarily difficult time and that an increase in the numbers of front-line staff is needed. We increased staff numbers in 2015 and will increase them again this year and in subsequent years. However, if the Garda Commissioner wants 1,000 more gardaí tomorrow morning, she has to be cognisant of the budget available to her. Equally, hospitals must be cognisant of the budgets available to them. However, exemptions apply to emergency departments and critical posts and more autonomy is available at local level. This relates only to the pay budget and is not to offset overspending in any other area.

The Deputy makes an important point on agency staff. These posts can continue to be converted into permanent posts. Agency staff conversions continue in the health service and it is possible to recruit staff. As the Deputy is aware, it is not always possible to recruit staff in certain parts of the health service and certain locations. I am not suggesting there is an adequate number of employees on the front line of the health service. Approximately 12,000 health service posts were lost in the deep recession, of which approximately 6,000 have been reintroduced. I acknowledge, however, that we have much more to do.

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