Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
858. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health his plans for a new phase of voluntary redundancies for staff in the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5844/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. This policy requires that by the end of 2013, the health service achieves a workforce of 98,955 whole time equivalents (WTEs).
While normal retirement and redeployment will achieve part of the required reduction, a targeted programme of voluntary redundancy in certain parts of the health service will also be introduced as a means of achieving the full reductions required. Work is underway to determine the most appropriate way of targeting this scheme in order to ensure that any impact on frontline service delivery is minimised. Further details will be made available as soon as possible.
