It's emerged €215 million has been spent on external staff in the first seven months of this year.
A midlands junior minister says a HSE recruitment ban needs to be lifted to remove the reliance on agency staff.
Laois-Offaly TD and Minster of State for Finance, Seán Fleming, says the chief executive of the HSE effectively put an embargo on the recruitment of all staff last year to keep costs down.
But it's emerged €215 million has been spent on external staff in the first seven months of this year.
The Fianna Fáil deputy says more permanent staff should be employed once the estimate for HSE spending for the year ahead is outlined in next month's budget:
TII Pressured To Provide Update On Major Midlands Road Project
Edenderry Festival Lineup Revealed
Midlands-Based Student Takes Bronze At Culinary Contest
New Legislation Just The First Step -Midlands Cancer Support Centre
Irish Credit Unions Hit Record Lending Levels
ADHD Ireland Issues Social Media Warning
Laois Footballer Tackles First Dates Ireland
New Jobs Announced For Midlands
Cancer Survivors Welcome ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Mortgage Reform
Irish Cancer Society Calls For Support This Daffodil Day
Interactive Offaly Event Highlights Barriers Faced By Abuse Survivors
Lawyers Seek To Overturn Murder Conviction Over Midlands Shooting
Burglary Gang Breaks Into Midlands Shopping Centre
Laois TD Wants New Fire Station Fastracked
Midlands Housing Commencements Continue To Rise
Almost 39,000 Midlands Workers Auto-Enrolled In New Government Pension Scheme
RTB Figures Show Annual Increase Of Over 10% For New Tenancy Rates In Offaly
12 One Act Plays To Be Staged By Laois Arts Collective
No Indication Of Meningitis Outbreak In Ireland - HSE
Laois Library To Host 'Skills For Life' Event