Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It will be later on in the year because we have to better understand all of the causes of the overspend versus the figures the HSE has published to date. We will have to know what those are in advance of the budget. As such, it will be known before that. I will be working closely with the Minister, Deputy Harris, on that. The director general of the HSE will no doubt put forward a comprehensive view as to the causes of the current spending levels. What is very striking to me is the current change in recruitment levels within our health services. Between the start of January 2018 and the end of April, the HSE has recruited an additional 1,519 whole-time equivalents. This translates as an average of 318 new people being hired to work in our health services every month. That does not sit with some of the narratives that are at times painted about the recruitment difficulties we have with our health services. I am working closely with the Minster for Health on this and we will have to be clear as to where this matter stands in advance of the budget.

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