Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Health Services Staff.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

418 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children his priority for recruitment of health service staff in the coming years in respect of both hospital and community care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3749/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

421 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to bring health service staff at all levels up to the requisite numbers in accordance with best practice at both hospital and community care level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3752/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 421 together.

Since 1997, there has been an increase of more than 28,000 or 42% in the approved employment ceiling for the health services, bringing the authorised employment ceiling to 96,000, excluding home helps. The chief executive officer of each health board, who has responsibility for recruitment of staff and defining service priority in his or her region, has latitude in line with the service planning process to prioritise services and to vary the staffing mix as appropriate.

The national task force on medical staffing is currently completing its first report, which will make recommendations on, among other issues, the number of consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors that will be required in the coming years to provide a high-quality, consultant-based service. These recommendations will be made in the context of the requirement under the European Working Time Directive that doctors should work an average of no more than 48 hours per week by 1 August 2009. The task force's report will take account of the health strategy, which indicates that there will be a significant increase in the number of consultants, the report of the Forum on Medical Manpower and the report of the national joint steering group on the working hours of NCHDs.

In March 2001, Peter Bacon and Associates published Current and Future Demand Conditions in the Labour Market for Certain Professional Therapists, which was a workforce planning study of certain health and social care professionals. Significant progress has been made in boosting the number of therapy training places in line with the recommendations of that report. In May 2002 I announced, in conjunction with the Minister for Education and Science, an additional 175 therapy training places in physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. In July 2002 a comprehensive report on the nursing and midwifery resource, Towards Workforce Planning, was published. Recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives has been an issue of concern in recent years. Developments in relation to the education of nurses have coincided with a dramatic increase in the number of places available for nursing students. This year, 1,640 nursing training places are available, 58% higher than the number available in 1998. In addition, there are now more than 800 places available on specialist postgraduate courses including accident and emergency, coronary care and oncology. A comprehensive package of incentives, including payment of fees and other financial supports, are available to nurses undertaking these courses.

It is my intention that the appropriate measures will be taken, in line with the recommendations contained in the three reports that I have mentioned, to ensure an adequate supply of medical, nursing and health and social care professionals for our health services into the future.