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Hospital Staff Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2012

Thursday, 15 November 2012

Questions (229, 230)

Gerry Adams

Question:

229. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if a memorandum has been issued by National Directors of the Health Service Executive (details supplied) to the effect that consultant posts are not exempt from the recruitment moratorium; the date on which this memorandum was issued; if there are circumstances in which vacancies in consultant posts are exempt from the moratorium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50666/12]

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Gerry Adams

Question:

230. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if all current vacancies in consultant posts across the state have full locum cover; if there are any posts that do not have locum cover; if he will identify those positions which are not currently covered and which discipline and hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50667/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.

The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. The Employment Control Framework for the health sector sets out the numbers reduction target for 2012 and how the public sector wide moratorium is to be applied in the health sector. While the frameworks in recent years had exempted a number of grades from the moratorium, including consultants, the 2012 Framework does not specifically exempt any particular grade. Nevertheless, the HSE can make staff appointments, including consultant posts, once it remains with its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so.

I take it that the memorandum referred to by the Deputy is a letter dated 20 July signed by National Directors of the Integrated Services Directorate and of Human Resources. That memorandum sets out the approach to health service recruitment to be taken in order to assist in addressing the serious budgetary situation facing the HSE. In particular, it outlines that except in a limited number of circumstances, all recruitment is to be paused with effect from the date of the letter.

As the filling of consultant vacancies, by locum cover or otherwise, is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry in that regard has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

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