Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, for the information of the House, we hired an extra - and I mean extra - 1,019 medical and dental staff last year. We hired an extra 2,100 nurses and midwives last year and an extra 929 health and social care professionals. Yes, there are lots of people coming and going - we have an international labour market when it comes to healthcare - but we are doing pretty well in terms of recruiting extra staff for the health service. The HSE will be allowed to hire an extra 2,000 staff overall over the course of this year. People describe that as a recruitment freeze. Having laid out the facts, people can decide for themselves whether that is an appropriate term to use.

With regard to Limerick, 150 extra beds have been added in the mid-west under this Government, most of them in Limerick. Another 96 are under construction and will come into commission in the new year. Also, a new private hospital is under construction, which will help in terms of the bigger picture, and there is investment in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's hospitals and community services to take the pressure off the main hospital in Dooradoyle. As we know from Waterford hospital, Connolly Hospital in my constituency, which is a great hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital and hospitals all over the country, it is not just about additional resources, staff and beds; you need good clinical leadership and sharp management too.

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