Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We need to give credit to the health system. It stood up strongly to a difficult wave in the winter period. The investment in the winter initiative plan was key in enabling us to have a better flow through hospitals even before the wave came. November and December were better months than in previous years for flow through hospitals and the home care packages were key to that. The 5 million extra home care hours provided had a significant impact on flow through acute hospitals. The overall health service plan provided for about 16,000 additional recruits. The biggest challenge is getting a sufficiency of staff quickly in all areas indicated. Recruitment remains a big challenge. The HSE put forward that it could recruit 16,000 people. It is moving in that direction and over time will get there but getting the levels of staff that have been provided for is an issue.

See this speech in context