I ask Members for their co-operation. There are three more contributors and we are way over time.

I raise the very serious issue of posts that are waiting to be filled in hospitals in Kerry. University Hospital Kerry has 50 vacant posts for nurses and carers. In Tralee Community Hospital, there are five vacant posts for nurses and there is no director of nursing in place. Dingle Community Hospital has three vacant nursing posts. We wish to have some Irish-speaking nurses appointed to that hospital. At Killarney Community Hospital, there are six vacant posts for nurses. Caherciveen Community Hospital has two vacant nurse posts. In Kenmare Community Hospital, staff need to be put in place before a number of beds can be put to use.

All of these posts are waiting to be filled under the HSE's safe staffing guidelines. Beds will remain idle or closed until the posts are filled. This is due to the staffing embargo the HSE put in place before the end of 2023. This is shocking given the huge waiting lists. These beds cannot operate if the posts are not filled.

We need the HSE and the hospitals to ensure that the posts they recruit for are posts that are budgeted. That is the general stance in regard to the funding of posts within our health service, as it is across the rest of government. I will raise the specific hospitals the Deputy mentioned with the Minister for Health.