Richard Bruton
Ceist:214 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if emergency staff will be subject to the recruitment freeze; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16414/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 28 April 2009
Ceisteanna (154)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government decided to introduce a moratorium across the public service, with effect from 27 March 2009 to end 2010. This means that no post in the health sector, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, nor may the payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade be made. The HSE will be focusing on the redeployment of existing staff to assure frontline services are protected. It is seeking a high level of flexibility from staff and unions to achieve this. In addition, certain posts in the health sector may be filled, as outlined below. The employment control framework specifically exempts the following front line posts from the moratorium: Medical Consultants, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Clinical Psychologists, Behaviour Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, and Emergency Medical Technicians. The framework actually allows for a growth in the number of those posts within the overall approved employment ceiling (111,800 wtes) for the health sector.
In line with the new contractual arrangements agreed with Medical Consultants and to provide for a consultant-led service, the number of hospital consultants will be increased but there will be compensatory savings by suppressing Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) posts. The focus on these key grades is in line with existing Government policy on the prioritisation of certain development areas, for which significant funding has already been provided. The overall result will be to assist in the reorientation of health employment to services delivered in primary and community care. As announced in Budget 2009, there will also be a 3% reduction in management and administrative grades in sections of the health sector. This will streamline management structures in the health service and will further reduce health employment in 2009.