Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
369. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which adequate staffing has or is being achieved at all levels throughout the health services, with a view to ensuring maximum operational levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26994/23]
View answerOver the past three years, there has been a targeted commitment to ensure significant expansion of the health sector workforce. This is evident through the record breaking funding secured in order to build this vital additional capacity.
Since 2019, this record-breaking expansion has seen an additional 20 thousand whole-time equivalents added to the workforce. This is substantial growth of 17%.
In 2020, we achieved the largest expansion of the health service workforce since the foundation of the HSE with an additional 6,357 whole-time equivalents added.
There are 20,686 more WTE working in our health service than there were at the beginning of 2020. This includes 6,505 nurses and midwives; 3,212 health and social care professionals; and 2,031 doctors and dentists.
I have also referred this question to the Health Service Executive to address what is being done at an operational level to maximise operations.
