My question relates to the nursing recruitment embargo. Yesterday, I heard the Taoiseach say there was no embargo. I received a letter from somebody who is waiting to be transferred to CAMHS in Portlaoise. The person is currently working in Dublin, but is on a panel to work in Portlaoise with Laois CAMHS and the position is being delayed due to the nursing recruitment embargo, with no start date in sight. There is a huge shortage of staff. Perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, can help in this regard. I am aware of another nurse in County Laois who is travelling to work a 12-hour shift in Cork every day. She is on a panel for Kilkenny hospital, but has been told there is an embargo. The Taoiseach stated yesterday there is no embargo on the recruitment of nurses. Is there or is there not an embargo? Can somebody tell the hospitals in question and CAMHS in Portlaoise that nurses can be employed? I ask for clarity.

For clarity, there is no embargo for newly trained graduate nurses into CAMHS. That is a fact. There are 130 staff currently being recruited across all CAMHS teams for youth mental health across the country. A preliminary notification was issued over the past two weeks to various CHOs across the country. There is a moratorium in place for certain posts, but not for consultants, graduate nurses or 130 dedicated staff members across several CAMHS teams. I put a geographical focus on that so that every part of the country would see an uplift.