Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister knows, budget 2024 is just around the corner. Last year, under budget 2023, I welcomed the recruitment of 1,000 new gardaí. Can the Minister give an update on the situation?

The number of vacancies for doctors, nurses, consultants and social workers is alarming. We cannot afford to lose the professionals. What is the Minister doing to retain them and increase recruitment? Our Defence Forces are at the lowest level ever with 7,500 personnel in the Army. That is very low. What is the Minister doing to increase that? We are finding it very hard to get carers because the HSE is refusing to engage them. It will not say what it means by a living wage. It is refusing to pay them for travel time and mileage. Then there is retention among our firefighters. The amount has been €8,500 for many years and it is a long time since they got an increase. Those are some of the alarming issues. Will the Minister give an update on those five particular areas, please?

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