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Replying To cluichethar:  "I read a few years ago that the HSE has two to three times as many paper pushers as its UK equivalent. I don't know if it is still that way but ridiculous if it is. Of course the easiest way cut unemployment is for the Government to hire."
From my experience working in the DSP things won't be changing in a hurry. It's extremely difficult to introduce any form of process improvement or performance metrics without absolute uproar.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3984 - 19/10/2025 11:43:42    2640608

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Replying To cluichethar:  "I read a few years ago that the HSE has two to three times as many paper pushers as its UK equivalent. I don't know if it is still that way but ridiculous if it is. Of course the easiest way cut unemployment is for the Government to hire."
I thought one of the big reasons for a bloated middle management in the HSE was to do with how the health boards were scrapped and incorporated into the HSE. But maybe that's the same principle at the end of the day, instead of making redundancies they just kept people on even though the roles could have been stream lined.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 421 - 19/10/2025 12:16:14    2640614

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Replying To cluichethar:  "I read a few years ago that the HSE has two to three times as many paper pushers as its UK equivalent. I don't know if it is still that way but ridiculous if it is. Of course the easiest way cut unemployment is for the Government to hire."
That doesn't surprise me. It's a long time now since Brian Cowan described the HSE as Angola - which had problems at the time. They are all civil servants so, secure employments and pensions. I think I remember something last year where the HSE had been allocated x amount of money to hire more medical staff. On inspection it was found that they had spent the bulk of it on "administration staff". It is and has been out of control for years.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1898 - 19/10/2025 12:30:55    2640618

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Catherine Connolly red hot favourite to win. Good news if she does.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2670 - 20/10/2025 12:45:43    2640791

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Replying To galwayford:  "Catherine Connolly red hot favourite to win. Good news if she does."
She is not over the line yet, but I hope she makes it. A change like this is long overdue.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3277 - 20/10/2025 13:57:20    2640810

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Replying To Seanfan:  "You'd need to recheck some of them false comments."
Well maybe these FF/FG should do an audit with how many hospital bed we will need on average for the next 30 years and how many staff we need to man those beds, and order the Department of Education to get their fingers out. Its almost as if they don't want to fix things.

Then again, this is the same FF/FG Political team who build the World's most expensive hospital on private land owned by a Convent or Order of nuns, and instead of compulsory purchase, they supposedly opted to pay rent for eternity. They also are responsible for building the worlds most expensive bicycle shed at €365k, which I could have done for a fraction of that price.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1501 - 16/10/2025 16:16:33 26

I made two corrections

Correction 1: Its the land for the new Irish Maternity hospital (Not the New Children's Hospital) which is owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity, through the St Vincent's Healthcare Group within which they are the major shareholder. The State will own the building, but not the land its built on, that will be leased by the Government.

Correction 2: The bicycle shed at Leinster House commissioned by FF/FG cost €336,000, not €365,000 as I mistakenly stated.

There needs to be a serious independent investigation into the bicycle shed, as spending €336k of public money on something that should cost less than €30k feels like there is something dodgy going on. Do you agree?

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1503 - 20/10/2025 14:18:44    2640812

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You haven't to look very far in Ireland to find something dodgy going on Commodore.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3498 - 20/10/2025 15:35:20    2640835

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Replying To supersub15:  "She is not over the line yet, but I hope she makes it. A change like this is long overdue."
A long overdue change from Michael D, McAleese and Robinson? In what way is that a change? What will she do differently from them?

conordee (Galway) - Posts: 457 - 20/10/2025 15:56:18    2640838

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Replying To Commodore:  "Well maybe these FF/FG should do an audit with how many hospital bed we will need on average for the next 30 years and how many staff we need to man those beds, and order the Department of Education to get their fingers out. Its almost as if they don't want to fix things.

Then again, this is the same FF/FG Political team who build the World's most expensive hospital on private land owned by a Convent or Order of nuns, and instead of compulsory purchase, they supposedly opted to pay rent for eternity. They also are responsible for building the worlds most expensive bicycle shed at €365k, which I could have done for a fraction of that price.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1501 - 16/10/2025 16:16:33 26

I made two corrections

Correction 1: Its the land for the new Irish Maternity hospital (Not the New Children's Hospital) which is owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity, through the St Vincent's Healthcare Group within which they are the major shareholder. The State will own the building, but not the land its built on, that will be leased by the Government.

Correction 2: The bicycle shed at Leinster House commissioned by FF/FG cost €336,000, not €365,000 as I mistakenly stated.

There needs to be a serious independent investigation into the bicycle shed, as spending €336k of public money on something that should cost less than €30k feels like there is something dodgy going on. Do you agree?"
They've thrown away billions to IPAS contractors. The bike shed is chump change,

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3739 - 20/10/2025 16:08:47    2640842

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "
Replying To Commodore:  "<b>Well maybe these FF/FG should do an audit with how many hospital bed we will need on average for the next 30 years and how many staff we need to man those beds, and order the Department of Education to get their fingers out. Its almost as if they don't want to fix things. Then again, this is the same FF/FG Political team who build the World's most expensive hospital on private land owned by a Convent or Order of nuns, and instead of compulsory purchase, they supposedly opted to pay rent for eternity. They also are responsible for building the worlds most expensive bicycle shed at €365k, which I could have done for a fraction of that price. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1501 - 16/10/2025 16:16:33 26</b> I made two corrections <b>Correction 1:</b> Its the land for the new Irish Maternity hospital (Not the New Children's Hospital) which is owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity, through the St Vincent's Healthcare Group within which they are the major shareholder. The State will own the building, but not the land its built on, that will be leased by the Government. <b>Correction 2: </b>The bicycle shed at Leinster House commissioned by FF/FG cost €336,000, not €365,000 as I mistakenly stated. There needs to be a serious independent investigation into the bicycle shed, as spending €336k of public money on something that should cost less than €30k feels like there is something dodgy going on. Do you agree?"</div>They've thrown away billions to IPAS contractors. The bike shed is chump change,"
At least some of IPAS money is going to GAA people. Banty is making a lot. He is putting it back into Monaghan/Cavan GAA?. Also did the Brogans own Dundrum house hotel in Tipp. It is now IPAS too. Far right going crazy at Banty.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2670 - 20/10/2025 16:30:12    2640844

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "
Replying To Commodore:  "<b>Well maybe these FF/FG should do an audit with how many hospital bed we will need on average for the next 30 years and how many staff we need to man those beds, and order the Department of Education to get their fingers out. Its almost as if they don't want to fix things. Then again, this is the same FF/FG Political team who build the World's most expensive hospital on private land owned by a Convent or Order of nuns, and instead of compulsory purchase, they supposedly opted to pay rent for eternity. They also are responsible for building the worlds most expensive bicycle shed at €365k, which I could have done for a fraction of that price. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1501 - 16/10/2025 16:16:33 26</b> I made two corrections <b>Correction 1:</b> Its the land for the new Irish Maternity hospital (Not the New Children's Hospital) which is owned by the Religious Sisters of Charity, through the St Vincent's Healthcare Group within which they are the major shareholder. The State will own the building, but not the land its built on, that will be leased by the Government. <b>Correction 2: </b>The bicycle shed at Leinster House commissioned by FF/FG cost €336,000, not €365,000 as I mistakenly stated. There needs to be a serious independent investigation into the bicycle shed, as spending €336k of public money on something that should cost less than €30k feels like there is something dodgy going on. Do you agree?"</div>They've thrown away billions to IPAS contractors. The bike shed is chump change,"
Yeah the IPAS stuff deserves a lot more scrutiny than it's getting I reckon.
People have gotten very wealthy very quickly around the country thanks to it. You'd wonder what the criteria involved in being granted the contracts is.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10086 - 20/10/2025 16:32:31    2640846

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Replying To supersub15:  "She is not over the line yet, but I hope she makes it. A change like this is long overdue."
"A change like this is long overdue" - are you for real, herself and Michael D are joined at the hip. I note her recent support for Irish unity as she has barely mentioned Irish unity during her lifetime in politics and she will soon forget it when she is elected.

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 421 - 20/10/2025 17:12:33    2640853

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Replying To conordee:  "A long overdue change from Michael D, McAleese and Robinson? In what way is that a change? What will she do differently from them?"
Can't help thinking the same thing. If anything, more radical. How that will pan out in such a restricted position will be interesting. You could see the Council of State being called in on contentious ( to radicals) legislation or referral to the Supreme Court for their judgement - which might not be the worst outcome.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1898 - 20/10/2025 18:20:29    2640860

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Replying To galwayford:  "Catherine Connolly red hot favourite to win. Good news if she does."
For who?

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2539 - 20/10/2025 18:40:54    2640864

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  ""A change like this is long overdue" - are you for real, herself and Michael D are joined at the hip. I note her recent support for Irish unity as she has barely mentioned Irish unity during her lifetime in politics and she will soon forget it when she is elected."
She will be in good company. Certain backers of hers only remember to mention it at election time. 30 years after they told us the Brits would be gone in five years,,,,,

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3739 - 20/10/2025 19:26:53    2640872

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Replying To galwayford:  "Catherine Connolly red hot favourite to win. Good news if she does."
Are you having a laugh? Two three-legged donkeys.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8821 - 20/10/2025 20:10:29    2640877

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Replying To Bon:  "For who?"
If she is elected President she promises to be President for all, even the doubting Thomas.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3277 - 20/10/2025 21:28:27    2640885

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  ""A change like this is long overdue" - are you for real, herself and Michael D are joined at the hip. I note her recent support for Irish unity as she has barely mentioned Irish unity during her lifetime in politics and she will soon forget it when she is elected."
Where did you get that from? I don't think they are too pally at all, she had a big falling out with Labour years ago. At least CC always classed herself as a republican even when she was in Labour when a lot of that party viewed it as a dirty word. In fairness Irish unity is not something that is brought up in questions or topics for independent candidates unless they are from border counties. Of course most will be in favour. But that is the realpolitik of being an independent local politician outside of a party apparatus. Shes not going to be making speeches telling the people of the Claddagh and Connemara that if they elect her as their independent rep shes going to prioritise Irish unity from the opposition benches of the Dáil.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 421 - 20/10/2025 23:19:38    2640893

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Not being funny lads but what difference will it really make to our lives who is elected to be President? Zig or Zag or the carbon monoxide alarm canary could do a good job of shaking hands/wings and cutting tape.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17274 - 21/10/2025 10:21:46    2640914

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Replying To supersub15:  "If she is elected President she promises to be President for all, even the doubting Thomas."
Whoever wins,looking like CC, will have to be a President for all.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 172 - 21/10/2025 10:59:12    2640919

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