Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are not proposing doing more of the same, hence specifically as part of the public sector pay agreement, the stability agreement, there was another agreement with the INMO that issues relating to recruitment and retention of health care professionals would be the first thing to be considered by the second phase of the Public Service Pay Commission’s work. That work is under way. It is nearly concluded and we will be guided as a Government by its findings. The unions have had an opportunity to put their views on what could help with recruitment and retention issues as well. I accept that we have a way to go to get back to pre-crisis figures for people working in nursing and community nursing. The Deputy is correct in the data she gave in that regard.

In December 2014, there were 14,539 community nurses; in December 2015, there were 14,789; in December 2016, there were 14,826; in December 2017, there were 14,874; and in April 2018, there were 15,175. I will circulate these figures. We are seeing an increase and we need to see a further increase. When I talk about offering permanent jobs to graduates, the HSE has appointed 861 which is 80% of the 2017 nurse graduates. I take the point that when we appoint them, we need to keep them in the country. It is not just a question of recruitment but also of retention.

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