274. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the expenditure by public hospitals on locum pharmacists; the rate of pay paid to locum pharmacists in publicly funded hospitals; if locum agencies are used and the daily and weekly rates paid to those agencies in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48613/19]

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.