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

For example, the HSE came forward last year, not politicians, with a figure of 16,000. It was presented to a health committee meeting: the HSE said it would recruit 16,000 in 2021. This year, when it initially made its bid, it said it would recruit 10,000. Its HR team is now saying that, given the current labour market situation, it could be 5,500 net but it will try to trump that. Discussions are now under way between the Department of Health and the HSE in respect of utilising the funding that will not be used for the 10,000 recruitment figure on waiting list initiatives and other initiatives within the health service.

The material on mental health provision is completely wrong.

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