Vol. 518 No. 6
320 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if there is a standard procedure for appointing senior health board staff; if ministerial approval is required; if so, the level at which it is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12624/00]
The Health Act, 1970, in section 15 provides that the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Acts, 1926 and 1940, should apply to the appointment of chief executive officers and other such offices under health boards as the Minister for Health and Children may determine from time to time with the consent of the Local Appointments Commissioners. In 1971, the then Minister determined that the Acts should apply to permanent posts with professional qualifications, to all grades of health inspector, posts of matron, deputy matron, assistant matron, chief nursing officer, assistant chief nursing officer, and to superintendent and assistant superintendent public health nurses.
As a consequence, appointments to all such posts are made following open competition conducted by, and on the recommendations of, the Local Appointments Commission. The approval of the Minister to such appointments is not required. However, section 18 of the Health Act 1970, provides that the qualifications for the appointment of an officer to a health board shall be approved of or directed by the Minister. In addition, section 14(2) of the Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Act, 1996, provides that a person appointed as a chief executive officer of a health board shall hold office under a contract of service with the board upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
My Department is currently taking steps to devolve responsibility for recruitment to certain posts from the Local Appointments Commission to the health boards. While the range of posts to be devolved has yet to be finalised, it is envisaged that responsibility for recruitment to all top level administrative, professional and technical posts will remain with the Local Appointments Commission. My Department has invited a small group representing the Local Appointments Commission, the health boards and office for health management to prepare a protocol setting out the most appropriate procedures for operating a devolved system of recruitment, having regard to best practices in human resource management. The protocol is expected to be completed shortly and it will then be the subject of discussion with the relevant health service unions.
321 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of social worker posts in each of the health boards directly funded by his Department; the amount of funding for these posts in 1998-99 and 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12625/00]
The data supplied are from the health service personnel census on 31 December 1998, the latest year for which data are available. The 1999 census is in the process of being collected and collated. Social workers encompass the following grades: social worker, non-professionally qualified; social worker, head medical; social worker, medical; social worker, professionally qualified; social worker, psychiatric; social worker, senior; social worker, senior medical; social worker, single handed; and social worker, team leader.
The number of social workers in wholetime equivalents employed by each health board on 31 December 1998 was as follows:
|
31 December 1998WTEs |
|
|
EHB |
371.12 |
|
MHB |
54.00 |
|
MWHB |
80.30 |
|
NEHB |
63.07 |
|
NWHB |
59.73 |
|
SEHB |
88.06 |
|
SHB |
118.29 |
|
WHB |
82.00 |
|
Total |
916.57 |
