A group of students in the west of Ireland who have qualified as psychiatric nurses have contacted me. They were previously told there would be full-time work for them. From what I understand, there are approximately 11 or 12 of them who will be taken on full time. At a time when we are employing huge numbers of agency nurses, what sort of mathematics goes on in the HSE? Do we want to actually start employing young people in this country? We have an opportunity to do it. Are we going to educate young people for England or Australia to have the benefit out of what we are doing? Will the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, instruct the HSE to make sure all those students who have gone through the whole process and are fully qualified in the psychiatric service, a service which is actually in turmoil at the moment, will be taken on full time?

I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for his question. I acknowledge the important role psychiatric nurses play in our health sector every day of the week. It is important to note that the Department of Health and the HSE have committed to offer 2024 graduate psychiatric nurses positions within the HSE. All services must work within recruitment ceilings. Not all graduates can be offered a position in their preferred location, but there are plenty of jobs that will be allocated. We are going to recruit the 2024 graduate psychiatric nurses, but they must work within the recruitment ceilings in a particular area.