Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I do not have the detail on that. It is a service matter for the HSE but I have been given an undertaking that cover will be provided. It do not believe anybody is under any illusion about the kinds of challenges that will face us in the health service at the end of this month. It will be difficult, of that there is no doubt. What I am seeking to do in the primary care area is to ensure that we can recruit a certain number of front-line people. We have managed to secure €20 million to fill vacancies. We do not know at this point the exact number of vacancies that will arise in primary care but, to the greatest extent possible, we will use that ring-fenced money to fill vacancies at the coalface, professionals providing the services on the front line. That will be done by employing people but there is an employment control ceiling by which we are bound. If it is a case that our allocation of posts is used up, we will then have to take another approach in terms of employing people on a sessional basis, ensuring that we get much greater flexibility from the services that are in place. We were promised that the Croke Park agreement would deliver that kind of flexibility and that will be tested in the coming months.