Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
631. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason there is an embargo on recruitment in the HSE coming into the worst time of the year, given that in University Hospital Limerick last Christmas, many lives were lost due to staff shortages; will this be the same this Christmas; if this is due to a budget deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52377/23]
View answerRecruitment across the HSE has been very strong in 2023. The HSE workforce is at its highest ever which is good news for both the public and the health sector staff throughout the country and reflects an expanding health service.
The Government funded the HSE to recruit 6010 new posts (net) in 2023 to support the development of services. The HSE has reached that target before the end of 2023, and this is why a temporary recruitment pause has been put in place.
The Government has allocated €22.5 billion to the health budget for 2024 with the Department of Health's additional allocation in budget 2024 being nearly €2 billion. This additional allocation includes an increase of €808 million in core current funding, €1,032 million in non-core current funding and an additional €120 million in capital funding.
As of September 2023, there were 143,075 staff working in our health service, an increase of 5,330 WTE year-to-date in 2023. The HSE also filled 13,000 replacement posts in 2023. The overall increase in staffing since December 2019 now stands at +23,263 WTE.
This figure of +23,263 WTE represents a net increase of 6,808 nurses and midwives; 3,388 health and social care professionals, 866 consultants and 1,806 non-consultant hospital doctors.
With regard to Acutes Services, the staffing in this area is 351 WTE above the year-end target of 3,400.
If the current level of growth was allowed to continue uncontrolled, the HSE would be significantly over the targeted and budgeted recruitment figure by year end which would have financial implications for 2023 and following years and adversely impact on the HSE's ability to recruit essential patient facing clinical staff. The temporary recruitment pause was introduced in an effort to control the excessive growth t ensure that recruitment levels stay within overall funding for new posts in 2023 and allow space for growth in clinical staff.
While there is a current temporary recruitment pause, where contracts have been issued and accepted, these will be honoured. International recruitment orders which are underway will progress where there is a commitment for 2023 and 2024.
