Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I can see the Deputy’s passion, and I do understand. It is important to reiterate our appreciation for the work carried out by all our healthcare workers throughout the pandemic, including those individuals who returned from retirement to help their colleagues and the public when they needed it most. I understand that.

The temporary waiver of pension abatement was introduced at a time of great need. The normal rules of pension abatement are that waivers will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, for a limited period of time. In this case, they ceased to operate from March 2021. I know I have already said that to the Deputy.

When new circulars are introduced, the HSE national pension payments team is mandated to apply the regulations in force regarding the abatement, specifically the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circular 24/2022 as of 1 January 2023. The HSE is obliged to calculate and apply abatement as laid down in the circular. It is important to note the HSE is only reviewing compliance from this date on, and not for the duration of the temporary Covid waiver.

The Government is committed to supporting the ongoing recruitment and growth of our health service workforce.

Reliance on retired workers and exemptions from the principle of pension abatement is not a durable solution or one that should be relied on long term. There has been an unprecedented level of investment by this Government in the health service workforce in recent years with over 29,000 more staff working in our health service today than at the beginning of 2020. Funding provided in 2024 and 2025 will allow the HSE to recruit an additional 7,000 staff in 2025, in addition to replacing department staff.

The Government is also committed to enhancing the supply of new graduates by increasing training places. Since 2014, first year nursing places in Irish higher education institutions have grown by 50%. An additional 122 nursing and midwifery places were provided in Northern Ireland in 2023 and a further 78 additional nursing places were provided in 2024. I thank the Deputy for bringing up this issue and for highlighting it and I will go back again to the Department on it.

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