Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

The Tánaiste, as a dad of young children, like me, will appreciate the importance of public health nurses and the community health checks they perform. Could he give the House an update on the progress being made on the priority allocation of the 26.7 WTE community nursing posts that are currently being recruited by the HSE? Is there a timeframe for their being filled? We are aware of the importance of childhood development checks but we also know about the important role community nurses and public health nurses play with regard to older people who live at home and who may have a chronic condition as well and can be left waiting for treatment or intervention as a result of not having access to a nurse. I understand there has been a huge increase in the number of personnel working in the HSE and that the HSE is aware of the shortage in this area.

I ask that the Tánaiste redouble efforts to prioritise the recruitment of these roles. We want to ensure we catch conditions at an early stage in a child's life to make sure the child is set up for success and that healthcare in the community is maximised and optimised to its greatest potential.

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