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

The HSE hired 8,000 extra staff last year, which was probably the biggest increase in a very long time. The HSE service plan next year provides for it to hire an additional 2,000 to 3,000 staff. I do not know what the Deputy's definition of a recruitment freeze is but 8,000 extra staff last year and another 2,000 or 3,000 this year, to me, is not a recruitment freeze. However, it will not be the free-for-all we have seen in previous years. It cannot be and it should not be. As part of the plans, 400 more beds will be opened between community and acute hospitals, there will be provision for waiting lists to fall again this year, which will be third year in a row and some of the savings will come from a reduction in agency staff.

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