Ireland South Candidate Believes Increased Defence Spending Should Be Redirected To Healthcare

A European election candidate for this region believes Ireland’s annual increase in defence spending should be redirected to healthcare instead.

In Budget 2024, the Government allocated over €1.2bn to the defence forces, which was an increase of €21m.

Last November, the HSE was forced to extend its recruitment embargo to all grades of nurses and doctors, due to funding shortfalls.

Ireland South Independent Candidate Graham De Barra says EU laws must also be enforced to ensure MidWest hospital staff are not working in abnormally pressurised conditions.