Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When the Minister of State says that it is a 58% staff vacancy rate, is she saying that the recruitment drive she is talking about is that to fill that 58%? Is she saying that there is a 58% shortage of staff, and is the recruitment drive she is talking about - which was at the end of January and is now in the final stages - to fill that? Okay. Perfect.

As we know, there is a major issue with the pay disparity that exists between HSE-run services and those run by section 39 organisations. We have come across some areas that were waiting on the money. I know there was, for example, a strike averted late last year. Are those issues all resolved now? I know from my own south-east area that we came across an area in Tipperary that was still waiting on money that we all thought was signed off on. I would appreciate an update on that. I know that is a bit vague, and sorry, I keep going over time.

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