Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2007
149 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the comments of the Taoiseach on 3 July 2007, that there have been significant increases in recent years in administrative promotional posts throughout the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24085/07]
View answerThe health service employs almost 130,000 personnel and this equates to 111,570 wholetime equivalents (WTEs) as at 30 June 2007, excluding home helps. This employment level includes the Health Service Executive, Voluntary Hospitals and Voluntary providers of Service for People with a Disability.
Over the period since the establishment of the Health Service Executive, recorded health service employment has increased by 13% (12,847 WTEs). Since the establishment of the HSE, the number of Medical & Dental personnel has increased by 13.02% (913). This includes an increase of 306 (+16.34%) in the number of Hospital Consultants. The number of nursing personnel has increased by 4,296 (+12.52%) to 38,609 (or by 2,848 and 8.3% when student nurses are factored out). The number of Health and Social Care Professionals increased by 2,611 (+20.35%) to 15,411. I would draw the Deputy's attention, in particular, to increases of 32% (Dieticians), 35% (Occupational Therapists), 24% (Physiotherapists) and 30% (Speech & Language Therapists). The Clerical and Administrative staffing has remained stable at 16.4% of overall staffing and General Support Staffing has fallen from 13.95% to 11.87% of overall staffing.
I am informed that the vast majority of Clerical and Administrative staff work in hospitals and community based services and perform key functions in relation to patients. However, it is important to set the right balance between these posts and clinical posts. In that regard, the HSE has commissioned an independent study to examine the number of management/admin staff and the proportion of such staff engaged in front line services.
