Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I accept that. I said from the outset that there has been progress in respect of ICU beds. The report referred to the issue across our health system in retaining staff who are trained here and who may emigrate and so forth. There are mitigating circumstances in this regard such as the work-life balance and staff getting accommodation in built-up areas like Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway where many of these beds are located. That is having a knock-on effect. Other countries have incentivised staff, whether that is retaining staff or bringing staff from overseas. There has to be imaginative ways to keep staff in terms of the cost of living and accommodation. If that can be done, people will stay. Accommodation is one of the factors for people not staying. Although it is not a simple thing, if it can be addressed, a lot of staff will stay in the Irish healthcare system.

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