Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 5

Written Answers. - Health Board Staff.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

141 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which it is proposed to achieve the suggested reduction of 600 in personnel in the health services; if that reduction will not lead to a reduction in services to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27562/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Deputy may wish to note that, given that the health service accounts for more than 30% of overall public service employment, a pro rata application of the Government's targeted reduction in public service employment of 5,000 would have required an aggregate reduction in health service employment of 1,728 staff in whole-time equivalent, or WTE, terms.

However, in recognition of the high proportion of employees in the health service engaged in front-line service delivery roles, the Government decided that the contribution of the health service to the overall reduction should be limited to a total of 600 personnel in WTE terms in the period to the end of 2005, or 200 staff per annum.

In formulating proposals for the health service for the implementation of the planned reduction in employment levels, a key objective was to ensure that full account be taken of priorities in service provision and, in particular, the need to minimise the impact of the reduction in employment on front-line service delivery in line with the Government's decision.

My Department therefore advised the chief executive officers of the health boards that the reduction in employment levels is to be achieved by maximising the benefit of natural wastage, through detailed scrutiny of replacement recruitment in the health service and non-filling of any non-essential posts, with specific emphasis on posts that are not directly involved in the delivery of front-line services to the public. The 200 WTE, or 0.2%, reduction in the national employment ceiling for the health service required by the end of the year is being applied on apro rata basis across all health boards based on pre-existing regional employment ceilings.