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HSE Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Questions (600)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

600. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way it is intended to save €286m in the Health Service Executive gross pay bill in 2013 as outlined in NSP 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2445/13]

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Written answers

The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must continue to be reduced in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. This policy requires that by the end of 2013, the health service achieves a workforce of 98,955 wholetime equivalents (WTEs). The HSE National Service Plan 2013 provides for savings of €52 million as a result of such reduction in staff numbers.

In order to mitigate the impact on frontline services of the reduction in employment numbers, the priority is to reform how health services are delivered in order to ensure a more productive and cost effective health system. Therefore, the HSE is using the provisions of the Public Service Agreement to bring about greater flexibilities in work practices and rosters, redeployment and other changes to achieve more efficient delivery of services. The National Service Plan provides for a total of €84 million to be saved under this heading.

Further very significant savings are being sought in the negotiations with the public service unions currently under way. The health sector is required to achieve savings of €150 million in 2013 under this process.

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