Community Care

Wednesday, 17 January 2024

Questions (1804)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

1804. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 9 November 2023, the details of any recruitment process underway to increase staffing levels in the Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit in Carraroe to facilitate the use of all available beds in the unit; the number of beds currently operational in the unit; the number of beds currently closed in the unit; the number of beds currently in use in the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1959/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE