22 Feb 2012, 17:27
The impact of the incentivised early retirement scheme on the health sector will be the key focus of the Joint Committee on Health and Children tomorrow, Thursday, 23rd February, when it meets with the Minister for Health; Minister for State with responsibility for Primary Care; Minister of State, Department of Health and Department of Justice, Equality and Defence with responsibility for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People; and Cathal Magee, chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “Our meeting tomorrow will provide an opportunity for committee members to question the Minister for Health, both Ministers of State in the Department of Health and the CEO of the Health Service Executive, who are in charge of the agencies with principle responsibility for delivering the country’s health and social care services on the impact of the early retirement scheme on our health service, and to hear the contingency planning for same.
At the meeting we will be looking to get the most up to date information on the numbers leaving the health service by the end of this month. Among the matters we will be considering are the financial and staffing challenges facing the health service as a result of the early retirement scheme; what levels of flexibility will be needed from remaining staff; what management changes will be needed to deal with the reduced staffing levels; and what kinds of mitigation measures are being put in place to backfill certain critical posts;
The meeting takes place tomorrow, Thursday, 23rd February, at 11.30am in Committee Room 2, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
ENDS
Committee Membership:
Deputies
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Derek Keating, Fine Gael
Billy Kelleher, Fine Fail
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fail
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Senators
Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
David Cullinane, Sine Fein
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fine Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent