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Health Services Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Questions (672)

David Cullinane

Question:

672. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff of the 14,700 announced in Budget 2022 which have been hired; the revised target for year end; the breakdown of onboarded staff by grade and section; the number recruited for Covid-19 test and trace services; the number hired on a permanent and indefinite basis; and the number hired on a temporary and fixed-term basis. [48042/21]

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Written answers

The health service has grown by 4,359 WTE from the end of 2020 to the end of August 2021, with a total of 130,533 WTE employed directly by the Health Service Executive and its agencies. This is the second largest staffing growth in the health service since the establishment of the HSE, with the largest growth having happened in 2020.

Despite the significant growth seen, recruitment has fallen behind original targets. These targets were developed on the assumptions that there would be no vaccine rollout, and restrictions would be no higher than level 3. The unexpected Covid surge in Quarter 1 of this year and the significant recruitment through external agencies needed for the vaccine rollout has contributed to lower recruitment directly into the HSE.

Given these difficulties, revised targets have been prepared by the HSE and are currently being reviewed by officials in the Department of Health. The targeted recruitment that hasn’t materialised in 2021 will be targeted in 2022, subject to budget constraints.

For the remaining elements of the Deputy's question, I have asked the HSE to respond directly, as soon as possible.

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