Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Board Staff.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

332 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the increase in the level of staffing in the Eastern Regional Health Authority since the inception of the authority compared with the figure for the previous board, the Eastern Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22191/02]

Jack Wall

Ceist:

333 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons employed by each of the health boards on a permanent basis for each of the past three years; the number employed by the ERHA and its three subsidiary boards for each year since the authority's inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22192/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. I understand the Deputy refers to total employment levels in each case. The increase in the volume of direct employment reflects a variety of factors. These include: demographic pressures and record levels of funded activity; the need to provide for additional replacement staff due to changing work practices; changes in the composition and structure of employment growth reflecting, for example, an improved skills mix; and reductions in vacancy levels resulting, for example, in reduced dependence on agency staff.

Health Board-Authority	1998	1999	2000	2001	Increase 1998-1999	Increase 1999-2000	Increase 2000-2001
Eastern
ERHA Corporate and Shared Services*			2,424	632			1,792
East Coast Area			1,607	2,730			1,124
Northern Area			4,296	5,178			882
South-Western Area			2,805	4,197			1,392

Health Board-Authority	1998	1999	2000	2001	Increase 1998-1999	Increase 1999-2000	Increase 2000-2001
EHB-ERHA (from 2000 onwards)	10,211	10,651	11,131	12,737	440	481	1,606
Midland	3,485	3,507	4,100	4,810	22	594	710
Mid-Western	4,329	4,403	5,004	5,787	74	601	783
North-Eastern	4,516	4,764	5,147	6,501	248	384	1,353
North-Western	4,281	4,565	5,349	6,653	284	784	1,304
South-Eastern	5,773	6,136	7,318	8,017	363	1,182	699
Southern	7,301	7,720	8,449	9,614	418	730	1,164
Western	6,223	6,373	7,305	8,287	149	933	982
Total	46,119	48,117	53,804	62,406	1,998	5,687	8,601

Note 1: All figures are expressed as wholetime equivalents.

Note 2: *Certain personnel were re-assigned to the relevant AHB during the course of 2002.