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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Oct 2001

Vol. 543 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Staff.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

70 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing posts vacant in the State and in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25626/01]

The Health Service Employers Agency undertook a national survey of nursing vacancies on 31 July 2001. I am arranging for a copy of this survey to be forwarded directly to the Deputy. The survey contains a summary of the vacancy situation in each health board area.

The survey found that a total of 4,653 nurses were recruited in the year ending 31 July 2001 and that a total of 2,951 resigned-retired-moved to another employer in the same period. Accordingly, the recruitment of nurses continues to run strongly ahead of the numbers leaving with a net increase of 1,702 nurses in the system.

The total number of nursing vacancies reported was 1,251. This is a decrease of 5% when compared with the position on 30 April 2001. A total of 416.75 agency nurses were employed every day during the month of July 2001. Excluding three health boards for which figures were not available, it was reported that, nationally, a total of 2,895.05 hours overtime by nurses was used each day during the month of July 2001. This equates with 520 full-time nurses per week.

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