Mental Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022

Tuesday, 1 March 2022

Questions (666, 667, 668, 669)

Holly Cairns

Question:

666. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists in the CHO 4 HSE mental health services who were informed of opportunities to transfer into posts for each of the years 2014 to 2021; the context and means by which these opportunities were communicated; the number of psychologists in CHO 4 who expressed an interest in writing in availing of opportunities to transfer into posts for each of these years; the number of psychologists in CHO4 wjp were facilitated in each of these years to transfer into posts that were not first advertised to eligible candidates on the relevant national recruitment panel. [11111/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

667. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the way appointments by transfer for psychologists in the CHO 4 mental health services were adjudicated; the process involved in allocating these posts; the rationale for their approval by senior management in each of the years 2014 to 2021 given the national panel process that applies to psychology recruitment and the absence of a transfer policy within the discipline; if unadvertised transfers which are not preceded by attempts to fill those posts through the relevant recruitment panel will continue as a form of recruitment for psychologists in CHO 4 in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11112/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

668. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the percentage of appointments to permanent contract psychology posts in the Cork adult mental health services between August 2017 and January 2021 that took place through unadvertised transfers; if he will identify each psychology appointment and the recruitment method in that period for the CHO 4 adult mental health services; and the date of the appointment and the service location of each. [11113/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

669. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the reason a local interview was used as the method of recruitment to a senior psychologist adult mental health post in the St. Stephen's Hospital, Fermoy home-based crisis team in March 2017 instead of the relevant national recruitment panel; the reason the relevant national recruitment panel was later used in October 2017 when the post was vacated and again advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11114/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 666, 667, 668 and 669 together.

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 667 answered with Question No. 666.

Question No. 668 answered with Question No. 666.

Question No. 669 answered with Question No. 666.