A response to a parliamentary question put by my colleague, Deputy Ward, showed yet another increase in the number of children awaiting psychological treatment. Of the 13,000 waiting on treatment, more than 11,000 of them are children, almost 4,000 of whom have been waiting over a year for an appointment. This represents a 7% increase between January and May this year. This is not sustainable and immediate action is required. There seems to be a persistent crisis in the provision of mental health services across the country. The HSE invested €38 million in fees and salaries of trainee clinical psychologists over the past five years, yet did not directly recruit one newly qualified clinical psychologist. The psychologists and resources are there but the ability and will to hire them is not. At this time, when we are experiencing an unprecedented demand for psychological support in primary care, what action will the Government take to make real efforts in addressing vacancies in psychology services and to reduce the waiting list to deliver these services?

I appreciate there are many shortcomings in our health and mental health services, in particular, but it is important to acknowledge that what the Deputy said is not true. There have never been more people working in the health service. The HSE has recruited more staff in recent years than ever was the case before, a significant proportion of whom are clinical staff.

Am I to take it that the Tánaiste is saying that the HSE did not provide accurate content in the reply to that parliamentary question?

The Deputy can only ask one question.

No. The Deputy gave the impression that there was no willingness to recruit staff into our health service. I am saying that is factually incorrect. There have been significant increases in the number of people working in our health service. On the issue raised by the Deputy, I do not have a detailed answer to that, but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to provide that.