Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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398. To ask the Minister for Health the number of caterers within the HSE are employed by agencies from 2020 to date, in tabular form. [18215/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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399. To ask the Minister for Health the amount the HSE spends on agency staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18216/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that, as stated in the Programme for Government, we are committed to recruit additional doctors, nurses, dentists, and health and social care professionals, and reduce reliance on contract and agency workers.

The HSE's spend on Agency for Department of Health funded activities for the periods January-December 2023, January-December 2024 and the most recent period for which data are available, namely January-February 2025, is set out below:

• to undertake an analysis of promotional posts currently filled by Agency staff and where appropriate will fill identified posts through direct employment.
• to prioritise Agency staff who have been in an entry level post for one year or more for employment in the HSE.
• to seek a further Agency conversion programme through the Estimates process for 2026.

It is expected that the successful adoption of these commitments will lead to both cost savings and improved quality of services across the health sector.