Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2010
229 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will lift the staff moratorium at a charity (details supplied) in County Galway which is having a direct impact on the retention of respite services; the reason for the different policy on the moratorium for section 38 and section 39 funded agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20025/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the agency in question is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) under section 38 of the Health Act 2004. Existing employment control arrangements for the health services include the HSE and section 38 agencies.
The Government has made clear that a critical part of its strategy to restore the public finances is to achieve sustainability in the cost of delivering public services relative to State revenues. To help achieve this goal, it will be necessary to restructure and reorganise the public service and to reduce public service numbers over the coming years. This requires that the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the health service will continue to apply until the numbers have fallen to the level set out in the Employment Control Framework for the health sector. The Framework for 2010-2012 gives effect to the Government decision on employment policy in the public sector and provides that there will be a net reduction in employment to 2012. This includes a target reduction in numbers in 2010 to achieve the overall reduction of 6,000 from March 2009 to the end 2012 and consequential pay roll savings. Based on numbers reductions already achieved in 2009, the net target reduction to end 2012 is 4,560 WTE (or 1,520 per annum). Similar to 2009, there are a number of grades exempted from the moratorium to maintain key front line services and to support the development of policies in relation to disability, mental health, cancer, and child care.
Grant aided agencies (funded under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004) are not directly affected by the pay adjustments provided for under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act 2009. Section 39 agencies are not public service bodies as defined in that Act and their employees are not public servants. Therefore, the Employment Control Framework 2010-2012 (including the moratorium on recruitment) does not cover section 39 agencies.
However, the grant funding of Section 39 Agencies is subject to the general efficiency savings for the health sector provided for in the Budget. Accordingly, it is entirely appropriate that Section 39 Agencies and other HSE funded voluntary providers take appropriate measures to ensure that they continue to provide the same level of service in 2010 as previously, notwithstanding the reductions in their funding. It is the responsibility of each individual employer to decide exactly what mix of actions should be taken to achieve this goal, to take appropriate legal and other advice, to consult and inform its employees/trade unions as necessary and to manage the HR and industrial relations implications of its decisions.
230 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of doctors within the health service in terms of whole time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target point at which point there moratorium will end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20049/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra231 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nurses within the health service in terms of whole time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target point at which point there moratorium will end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20050/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra232 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of physiotherapists within the health service in terms of whole time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target point at which point the moratorium will end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20051/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra233 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of porters within the health service in terms of whole time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target point at which point the moratorium will end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20052/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra234 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of household staff within the health service in terms of whole time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target point at which point the moratorium will end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20053/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra235 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nurses aides within the health service in terms of whole time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target point at which point the moratorium will end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20054/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra236 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff within the health service in terms of whole time equivalents employed prior to the introduction of the moratorium; the estimated number currently employed; the target point at which point the moratorium will end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20056/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 230 to 236, inclusive, together.
In order to implement savings measures on public service numbers, the Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade, with effect from 27 March 2009. The Employment Control Framework for 2010-2012 gives effect to the Government decision on employment policy in the public sector. It provides that there will be a net reduction in employment to 2012. This includes a target reduction in numbers in 2010 to achieve the overall reduction of 6,000 from March 2009 to the end 2012 and consequential pay roll savings. Based on numbers reductions already achieved in 2009, the net target reduction to end 2012 is 4,560 WTE (or 1,520 per annum).
Similar to 2009, there are a number of grades exempted from the moratorium to maintain key front line services and to support the development of policies in relation to disability, mental health, cancer, and child care.
The numbers of relevant grades cited in the question are set out in the following table:
|
31/12/2008 |
31/03/2009 |
31/12/2009 |
31/03/2010 |
|
|
Medical grades |
7,763.55 |
7,788.97 |
7,737.26 |
7,717.08 |
|
Nursing grades |
38,107.92 |
38,789.00 |
37,466.03 |
37,720.50 |
|
Physiotherapist grades |
1,448.91 |
1,464.21 |
1,468.83 |
1,486.54 |
|
Porter grades |
1,642.43 |
1,650.95 |
1,525.54 |
1,526.81 |
|
Theatre Technician/Porter/Attendant |
49.16 |
51.34 |
50.75 |
49.71 |
|
Domestic grades |
3,359.48 |
3,307.25 |
3,250.25 |
3,173.88 |
|
Nurses Aides |
167.34 |
174.32 |
157.12 |
155.41 |
Notes:
(i) Medical grades includes all the grades of the Medical/Dental grade category excluding the dental grades.
(ii) Student nurses are included in the 2008 employment ceiling on the basis of 3.5 students equating to 1 wholetime equivalent. The employment level for nursing grades (adjusted for student nurses on the above basis) is 38,084 WTEs (Dec 08).
(iii) In the case of some agencies, data for March may not have been returned due to industrial action. Where this occurs, data has been rolled forward from the previous census.
The numbers of staff employed in the public health service are set out in the following table:
|
31/12/2008 |
31/03/2009 |
31/12/2009 |
31/03/2010 |
|
111,025.30 |
111,769.97 |
109,752.90 |
109,754.74 |
(1) Excludes Home Helps.
(2) Student nurses are included in the 2008 employment ceiling on the basis of 3.5 students equating to 1 wholetime equivalent. The employment level adjusted for student nurses on the above basis is 111,001 WTEs (Dec 08).
(3) In the case of some agencies, data for March may not have been returned due to industrial action. Where this occurs, data has been rolled forward from the previous census.
In addition, a full list of the grades in the public health service and the numbers employed in each (for the dates above) will be forwarded to the Deputy.
