Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In terms of the figures in respect of the Be on Call for Ireland initiative, when one narrows down the number who applied to the number deemed to have the relevant qualification, then to those who answered the follow-up, then to those who went through the interview process and finally to those who successfully interviewed, one moves very quickly from a very large number to a far smaller number. I have discussed the matter with the HSE and heard its chief executive explaining on the record that when it moved through all of those steps in the process, it ended up with a far smaller number than all Deputies had hoped for, given the very high number of people who applied.

On the recruitment process, I do not think the current recruitment process works. It is too centralised, bureaucratic and slow. It is probably too expensive as well. It means that people who are ready, willing and able to take up some of these 16,000 jobs are being asked to jump through too many hoops. Some of them walk away because they get better offers. One of the things I wish to do is to work with the HSE to improve and speed up that process while maintaining the quality controls because it is clear that we need a better and more responsive recruitment process.

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