Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2016
512. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a three-to-one system of replacement in operation for nurses in the Health Service Executive; if he has issued an instruction to the executive to implement a system which sees only one replacement nurse appointed for every three lost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11846/16]
View answerAs part of Budget 2015, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced that the previous employment control framework, primarily based on a general moratorium on recruitment and promotion, would be replaced by a Pay and Staff Numbers Strategy which would focus on operating within pay allocations.
The HSE are currently working with the Department of Health on the preparation of their 2016 Pay and Numbers Strategy. This has involved the development of ‘bottom up’ workforce plans at hospital and community service level. While these plans are being developed, interim recruitment measures have been put in place by the HSE, which require that pay budgets are complied with.
The HSE has put in place a range of measures which vary according to the budgetary position of the provider. However, these measures do not impact on a hospital’s ability to recruit where funding exists to facilitate that recruitment; for example in the case of replacement posts or where funding has been allocated for particular roles under the HSE service plan. Recruitment can also take place in areas of critical care and emergency services.
