South Tipperary Independent TD, Mattie McGrath, has called on the Minister for Health to clarify what he terms ‘the outrageous reports’ that the HSE plans to hire 35 external coaches to address the serious gaps in management expertise throughout the system.

“At a time when more and more front line services are being cut, I really have to question what world the HSE are living in if they plan to hire 35 “leadership coaches” with one hand while they cut home help hours and other vital services with the other” said Deputy McGrath.

Deputy McGrath has put a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health, calling on him to clarify the position, to confirm how much the HSE plans to spend on hiring these coaches and out of what budget the money will be found.

“At a time when the HSE should be prioritising front line services they are planning on putting yet more money into the layers of management within the HSE. This is outrageous. The HSE has a limited budget and the sick and elderly are suffering. We cannot let them suffer any more at the hands of managers who clearly are not managing as they should be,” concluded McGrath.