Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2019
66. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 82 of 10 October 2019, the reason sanction has not been given by the HSE in respect of the 48 vacant posts in which interviews have been held, posts offered and accepted and for which the sanction remains outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48891/19]
View answerI am advised by the HSE that while there is no national recruitment embargo or moratorium in place, there is a priority requirement for all HSE services to maintain, or get to, an affordable staffing level that is sustainable in 2019 and 2020, while also prioritising the delivery of safe services.
In light of this, the HSE advise that they have introduced control measures relating to staffing and recruitment to ensure that they live within the available resources provided to them. This does mean that in some Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations non-critical replacement posts will be paused.
The HSE report that there is on-going capacity for recruitment of newly funded posts and replacement of critical clinical posts within frontline services throughout this period.
With regard to these posts specifically, I am advised by Community Healthcare West that once derogation is received from the appropriate National Directors Office, the HSE Recruitment Office will be instructed immediately to proceed with the appointments.
