Four nursing jobs are available in Ireland for every qualified nurse applying, the latest HSE figures show.

The Irish Times is reporting that intensive care units and operating theatres around the country are among the worst hit for shortages as the HSE says it is having particular difficulties recruiting specialist nurses.

The HSE has also said it is 20 per cent less expensive to directly employ nurses rather than paying an agency to bring in temporary staff.

Although the number of nurses rose by 400 last year, the HSE is having particular difficulties getting recruits for “theatre and intensive care where specialist skills are required”.

 Before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly  highlighted that two operating theatres at Merlin Park Hospital and an entire ward at University Hospital Galway were shut because of staff shortages.

 “When I ask why it is closed, I find it is an absence of staff. If there is an absence of nurses at that level, we have an emergency.

The PAC was examining the latest annual report and financial statement of the HSE, which showed “the ratio of nursing jobs in Ireland to nurses looking for them is four to one and it is particularly difficult to fill specialist nursing roles”.