Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----with almost €170 million. The Minister for Health, his Department and the HSE are now working to implement that plan to recruit more staff. A further 608 people will be recruited as part of the winter plan. We have increased the workforce in health by more than 16,000 in the past two years. This is the largest-ever increase in the workforce in health because we recognise it as a priority. We have had to build up the permanent capacity, in respect of both beds and staff, to meet the demands of a growing population and the growing complexity of healthcare provision. We can and will do more.

See this speech in context