Vol. 509 No. 4
223 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of permanent nursing positions vacant in each of the health board areas due to the unavailability of trained nursing staff; the amount of salary savings to date as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20419/99]
The most recent survey of nursing vacancies, carried out by the Health Service Employers Agency, 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. I have asked the HSEA to carry out a further study of the position at 30 September 1999.
On an annual basis, the approximate wages bill for such a number would be in the region of £12.6 million. However, in 1998, health agencies in the Dublin area utilised agency nurses at a cost of £13.5 million approximately. In these circumstances, taking into account agency nursing and overtime costs, it may be assumed that there is little or no overall saving accruing to the agencies.
It should also be noted that nurse recruitment is carried out on an ongoing basis in most hospitals, and the level of vacancies fluctuate accordingly. At any given time, significant numbers of nurses would be in the process of being appointed by employers or moving from one employment to another.
