Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health the amount of money paid to agency staff in County Kerry working for the Health Service Executive for the accounting period November 2011 to November 2012 on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53929/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In the health service, agency staff have traditionally been used to meet a short-term service need or where some flexibility in staffing a service is required. Agency staff may be used only in the most exceptional of circumstances and when all alternative avenues have been exhausted. Such staff may only be engaged when signed off by identified senior management. As the specific issue raised is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.