Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2014
181. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he, his Department or the Health Service Executive has received letters requesting extra staff in maternity units over the past three years; the way they were responded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5915/14]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that in the past three years, I have received a small number of representations in relation to staffing in maternity units. The Deputy might however note that over that period, despite our falling birth rates, increased numbers of midwives have been employed in the health service. The number of Staff Midwives employed at the end of 2010 was 1,178 (WTEs). By the end of 2013, the number had increased to 1,341, including 20 recently qualified midwives participating in the Graduate Nursing/Midwifery Programme. This increase reflects the capacity of the HSE to appoint critical front-line staff where it is necessary to do so, notwithstanding overall recruitment constraints.
