Health Services Recruitment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2013

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Ceisteanna (510)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

510. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current embargo on recruitment in the Health Service Executive allows the recruitment of all staff except nurses, clerical-administration, maintenance and household staff; and when he will ask the HSE to review the embargo to ensure nurses and other frontline clinical staff can be recruited to ensure the continuity of frontline service. [13813/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The 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. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. As the recruitment of nurse and other frontline clerical staff is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.