Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
1083. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed in his Department in 2012 excluding Health Service Executive staff; the role and function of these staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46054/13]
View answerThe role of the Department of Health is to provide strategic leadership for the health service and to ensure that Government policies for the sector are translated into actions and implemented effectively. The civil servants in my office support me and the Ministers of State in their implementation of Government policy, and in discharging their Government, Parliamentary and Departmental duties.
In line with my Department's Statement of Strategy 2011 - 2014 their role involves engaging with service users and other stakeholders, monitoring and evaluating the health service, and steering changes and improvements in the service. In fulfilling this role over the lifetime of the Strategy they have particular regard to key strategic goals in respect of the following areas:
Fair Access and Sustainability;
Patient Safety and Quality;
Health and Wellbeing;
Primary Care;
Acute Hospitals;
Specialised Care Services.
The total number of staff employed in the Department in performing these functions at end December 2012 was 355 Whole Time Equivalents. This includes a small number of staff seconded from the HSE and other Health Agencies who are engaged in Departmental duties for the duration of those secondments.
