The number of people employed in my Department at the end of 2002 was 645 in whole-time equivalent terms. There were 95,679 employed in the wider health service (health boards, voluntary hospitals and intellectual disability homes), and 1,878 employed in the specialists agencies under the aegis of my Department. The specialist agencies under the aegis of my Department are set out in the table.
A sum of €188.194 million has been provided for the payment of the second phase of the Public Service Benchmarking Body's pay recommendations to eligible staff in the health sector in 2004. This sum is in addition to the €90.3 million allocated in 2003 for the first phase. This allocation covers the staff employed within my Department, the wider health service, specialist agencies and the grant-funded voluntary sector.
As the Deputy is aware payment of benchmarking is strictly contingent on the completion of the performance verification process of the health service modernisation programme as set out in Sustaining Progress, which is currently under way.
Specialist agencies under the aegis of the Department of Health and Children
An Bord Altranais
Blood Transfusion Service Board
Board for the Employment of the Blind
Dental Council
Disability Federation of Ireland
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
General Medical Services Payments Board
Health Research Board
Health Service Employers Agency
HEBE
Hospital Bodies Administrative Bureau
Irish Medicines Board
National Association of Mental Handicapped of Ireland
National Breast Screening Programme
National Cancer Registry Board
National Council for Ageing and Older People
National Council for Planning and Development of Nursing and Midwifery
National Social Work Qualifications Board
Office for Health Management
Office for Tobacco Control
Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council
Voluntary Health Insurance Board