Health Service Staff.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2005

Tuesday, 21 June 2005

Ceisteanna (201)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

138 Mr. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the extent to which the Department of Health and Children is in excess of the employment target level which the Government set in budget 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18401/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Employment levels for the health service have been adjusted since 2002 in line with Government policy on public sector employment and service developments. The 2005 employment ceiling is 97,550. The latest available employment returns for the health services are in respect of end-2004 and are set out in the following table. The outturn, excluding home helps, at that date was 98,723 whole time equivalents or WTEs.

I am awaiting detailed proposals from the Health Service Executive regarding compliance with approved employment levels consistent with safeguarding front line service delivery and achieving an appropriate balance between clinical and non-clinical employment levels in the health service. The need to achieve compliance with approved employment levels has also been underlined by my Department in direct discussions with the HSE's senior management team in the context of the finalisation of the executive's national service plan for 2005.

Health Service Staffing at 31/12/2004.1

	Number
Medical/Dental	7,013
of which Consultants	1,871
Nursing	34,313
Health and Social Care Professionals	12,830
Management/administration2	16,157
General Support Staff	13,857
Other Patient and Client Care	14,553
Total	98,723

Source: Health Service Personnel Census at 31 December.

Notes:

1Excludes Home Helps.

2Includes all management/administrative and clerical personnel. The Management/Administrative Category includes — staff who are of direct service to the public and include Consultant's Secretaries, Out-Patient Departmental Personnel, Medical Records Personnel, Telephonists and other staff who are engaged in front-line duties together with staff in the following categories Payroll, Human Resource Management (including training), Service Managers, IT Staff, General Management Support and Legislative and Information Requirements.

Question No. 139 answered with QuestionNo. 79.

Question No. 140 answered with QuestionNo. 56.