A "staggering" €2.756 million was spent on private agency staffing in Ennis General Hospital in 2024, new health statistics have revealed.

Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan, has described the HSE's wasteful over-reliance on outsourced staff as unacceptable and completely unsustainable.

Her comments come as figures released to Sinn Féin health spokesperson, David Cullinane TD, show €2.756 Million was spent on private agency staffing in Ennis General Hospital in 2024. Deputy McGettigan described the agency spending in Ennis Hospital as staggering considering it represents a 13.46% increase since 2021.

"Wasteful over-reliance on agency spending has long been identified as an area where real savings can be made," she said.

"Yet, we are still seeing year-on-year increases, despite the government's health productivity and savings taskforce."

"This spike is directly related to the government's arbitrary recruitment limits under the pay and numbers strategy.

"These staff are needed to provide essential services, but they cannot be recruited directly, so the HSE is paying a premium price for agency workers instead."

"The health service needs an ambitious and realistic workforce plan to directly train, recruit, and retain the workers needed to safely staff the health service, and strict targets to significantly reduce runaway agency spending."

"Problems in the health service will never be addressed without a serious multi-annual plan that is fully thought-through."

Following intensive engagement in conciliation in the WRC last March, Director of Conciliation, Facilitation & Mediation Services, Sylda Langford put forward a proposal to all parties including the unions and the HSE for acceptance. This proposal stated the HSE are committed to the use of direct employment.

"While it is acknowledged that there are circumstances when use of overtime and agency are required, the HSE has put in place measures and savings targets to reduce the use of agency and overtime. The unions remain concerned about the high level of spend on agency," she said.

"The HSE commits to undertake an analysis of promotional posts filled via agency persons and to fill identified posts through direct employment. Existing panels will be utilised in the filling of promotional posts.

"The HSE commits to fill future promotional vacancies by direct employment, save where this option is not available. WTE limits will apply."

Reliance on agency hospital staff 'completely unsustainable'