Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:216 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing vacancies in each of the hospitals in the Southern Health Board area. [19768/99]
Written Answers. - Hospital Staffing.
The most recent survey of nursing vacancies, carried out by the Health Service Employers' Agency – HSEA – related to the position at the end of April 1999 and found that there were 566 staff nurse vacancies, all but 30 of which were in the Dublin area. There were no vacancies in hospitals in the Southern Health Board area. However, there were 13 vacancies in mental handicap agencies in Cork. I have asked the HSEA to carry out a further study of the position at 30 September 1999.
The Deputy may wish to note that when Cork University Hospital advertised for nursing positions in March 1999, it received 250 applications. Similarly, 166 nurses applied for positions in Tralee General Hospital when it advertised in February 1999. This shows the continued high level of interest in nursing positions in the Southern Health Board area.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:217 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of vacant professional positions in each hospital in the Southern Health Board area. [19769/99]
The number of vacancies in any grade will fluctuate from day to day. Information on vacancies is not collected on a routine basis. I have asked the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board to collate the information requested from institutions in the region and to reply directly to the Deputy when this is available.