Sinn Féin claim nothing has changed with ending of HSE recruitment freeze

Michael Bolton

Sinn Féin does not believe anything has substantially changed with the ending of the HSE recruitment freeze on Monday.

The Government has apportioned and additional €1.5 billion for the health service this year.

The hiring pause was brought in last October, but was extended in November.

Sinn Féin's health spokesperson David Cullinane told Newstalk there is nothing new in the lifting of the hiring freeze.

"I don't see anything substantially changing on the back of this announcement from the HSE.

"Last year and the year before, the HSE was able to recruit three times as many staff as they were able to recruit this year.

"There was no new funding for any new measures, including cancer services, so I don't see any big change coming from this announcement," Mr Cullinane said.

"The severe restrictions and limitations on recruitment that had existed for the best part of this year, in my view, will remain.

"What we do know is that the target of what the HSE set to reduce spending (by) has not been met, and has now been slashed," he added.