The Be on Call for Ireland campaign launched at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic has cost more than €900,000 to employ just 328 of the 73,000 people who applied for roles. Overall, including agency payroll costs, the scheme has racked up €7.6m in spending including recruitment, digital development and occupational health clearances. It was just one of the HSE's recruitment campaigns, but the high-profile and massive amount of applications it received has increased focus on it. In a response to the Oireachtas Health Committee seen by the Irish Examiner, the HSE said the scheme had received 73,330 applicants, but had employed just 328. Of those, 126 were appointed to hospitals, 73 to community health organisations, and 129 to public health and other organisations.

Source: Irish Examiner March 09, 2021 20:22 UTC