Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2014
526. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the overall numbers of health staff employed currently by the health service; the year on year change in this number since the start of the Government's term, including a breakdown of nursing staff, medical staff and managerial staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48444/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraStaff Category details: March 2011 to October 2014
|
Staff Category |
WTE Mar 2011 |
WTE Dec 2011 |
WTE Dec 2012 |
WTE Dec 2013 |
WTE Oct 2014 |
WTE change since Mar 2011 |
% change since Mar 2011 |
|
Medical / Dental |
8,005 |
8,331 |
8,320 |
8,353 |
8,755 |
+751 |
9.4% |
|
Nursing |
36,783 |
35,902 |
34,637 |
33,768 |
34,060 |
-2,724 |
-7.4% |
|
Health & Social Care Professionals |
16,295 |
16,217 |
15,717 |
15,844 |
13,554 |
-2,740 |
-16.8% |
|
Management/Admin |
16,454 |
15,983 |
15,726 |
15,503 |
15,039 |
-1,415 |
-8.6% |
|
General Support Staff |
10,885 |
10,450 |
9,978 |
9,695 |
9,330 |
-1,554 |
-14.3% |
|
Other Patient & Client Care |
18,200 |
17,508 |
17,129 |
16,796 |
16,657 |
-1,543 |
-8.5% |
|
Total |
106,621 |
104,392 |
101,506 |
99,959 |
97,395 |
-9,225 |
-8.7% |
Source: Health Service Personnel Census
Note: All figures are expressed as whole- time equivalents on an Employment Control Framework (ECF) basis.
In recent years, the Government decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. Since the introduction of the moratorium on recruitment in the Public Service in March 2009, this policy objective has resulted in a HSE staff reduction of 14,375 whole-time equivalents (WTEs) or just under 13% reduction in the HSE workforce. The reduction in staff numbers since the start of this Government's term is 9,225 WTEs or 8.7% of the HSE workforce.
In order to mitigate the impact on front-line services of the reduction in employment numbers, the priority is to reform how health services are delivered in order to ensure a more productive and cost effective health system. The revised working arrangements provided for in the Haddington Road Agreement are a pivotal element in this regard. Subject to approval by senior managers, arrangements are in place in the HSE to allow the recruitment of staff where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement. This has facilitated the recruitment of key grades, allowing a focus on enhanced services in older persons, mental health and disabilities services as well as on primary care.
It is important to note on the figures issued that there has been a 9.4% increase in Medical/Dental numbers and an 8.6% decrease in Management/Admin numbers. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in the budget that he intended to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. From 2015 Departments and Agencies will have discretion over staffing levels within the overall framework of their pay budget. This policy change will give HSE management greater autonomy to manage their own staffing profile. The change from a rigid employment control framework with a moratorium on recruitment to a focus on achieving the most cost-effective staffing profile within an allocated pay framework will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery, such as through the replacement of agency staff by staff on fixed term contracts of employment.
