Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Martin for his question. The HSE service plan will be published today. The agency's budget is €14 billion, the highest amount ever allocated to a health service plan. The plan contains a number of very important and positive developments.

The Deputy raises an important point. The HSE has recruited 500 staff for each of the past two months and before that. Of the most recent 500, 160 were nurses, 180 were community therapists and professional health care workers and 73 were medical posts. We have difficulties in some areas because of viruses and other illnesses which have led to a shortage of staff.

I welcome that the HSE announced today that it will host a further open recruitment event on 28, 29 and 30 of this month for nurses and midwives from all disciplines who are interested in working in the Irish health service. This will target nurses returning home for Christmas. There will be walk-in interviews on each day. This will be the first in a series of career day events for nurses throughout 2017. The Deputy will also be aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, restored the incremental credits to trainee nurses. When they emerge from training, they are offered permanent jobs. Recruitment is a challenge, admittedly. Other countries offer different facilities, but I hope that we can make an improvement as time goes on.

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