Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
520. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding shortages of front-line staff (details supplied) in cystic fibrosis centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14253/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has one of the highest reported incidences of cystic fibrosis in the world, with 1:1353 live births. 2009 marked the first year that the proportion of adult cystic fibrosis patients was higher than that of paediatric patients, reflecting improved care and management of cystic fibrosis patients.
There was a requirement to reduce public service numbers and maximise savings in the public service from the time of the downturn in the economy. The HSE introduced an embargo on recruitment in 2007, and this was followed by the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public sector in 2008. Notwithstanding that the HSE has had the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front-line services. This is reflected in the current recruitment campaign where the HSE is actively recruiting to fill consultant, NCHD and nursing posts.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in budget 2015 that he intends to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. The change from the application of a rigid employment control framework, with its particular focus on a moratorium on recruitment and compliance with employment ceilings and targets, to one operating strictly within allocated pay frameworks will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has advised that the HSE and Department of Health are required to submit a 2015 Pay and Numbers Strategy. Following approval of the strategy by DPER, a letter of delegated sanction for staffing will be issued. Pending this sanction, the existing moratorium and ECF arrangements will continue to apply. However the number of nurses employed has already increased by nearly 500 in the past 12 months. This increase encompasses initiatives undertaken by the HSE to reduce reliance on agency and to offer contracts of employment where agency can be replaced by full time posts.
