222. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of funded or sanctioned posts for which recruitment, appointment or commencement has been paused, delayed, refused or otherwise restricted as a consequence of financial, employment or recruitment controls in 2026, nationally and by HSE Health Region, Integrated Healthcare Area, hospital and National Service, broken down by staff category and grade; the number of successful candidates who have accepted an offer but have not yet received a commencement date; and the average and longest period such appointments have been awaiting approval or commencement, in tabular form. [67611/26]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.