David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2239. To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff recruited and onboarded in 2021 against Budget 2021 targets for the primary community sector and acute sector; the projections for year-end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37086/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The 2021 National Service Plan recognised the need for an unprecedented expansion of the permanent health workforce through permanent appointments. Funding has been provided for an increase to approximately 135,655 WTE across the health service by December 2021, which is an increase of 15,838 WTE over funded 2020 levels. There is significant workforce recruitment underway.

The latest available census data we have is for April 2021. At this time, the total health service workforce stands at 128,999 WTE. The total health workforce has increased by 2,825 year-to-date, and by 9,182 WTE since the end of December 2019.

The Pay and Numbers Strategy is currently being revised. Due to the cyber attack, this process has been delayed.

As the impact of the cyber attack on recruitment is as of yet, unknown. It is not possible to project the end year workforce figure at this point.

I invite the Deputy to resubmit their question when the HSE's systems have fully resumed, and more specific detail can be provided.