Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 June 2017
55. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his plans to end the staffing crisis in the health service in the context of public sector pay talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26269/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraArising from recent talks between the Government and public sector staff representative bodies, the draft Public Service Stability Agreement was finalised on 8th June 2017. It applies across the public service as a whole. It contains a specific commitment with regard to recruitment and retention in certain parts of the public sector. Under this commitment, the Agreement sets out a process for a more comprehensive examination of underlying difficulties in recruitment and retention in certain sectors and employment streams where difficulties are clearly evident. This would include the health sector. There will be opportunities for submissions to be made to the Public Service Pay Commission and the exercise is due to be completed by the end of 2018. Any proposals will be subject to discussion between the parties. Also, the agreement provides for a series of salary increases over the coming years and a number of health-related allowances will be restored, provided the relevant staff representative bodies accept the Agreement. These measures should assist in recruitment and retention of staff in the public sector generally.
In the broader context, there has been a significant improvement in the staffing of the public health services in the past three years as the economic position has improved and additional funding has been made available to support service delivery. Total numbers employed have increased from end April 2014 to end April 2017 by over 10,000 whole time equivalents to 111,979.
The number of consultants has increased significantly. At the end of April 2017 there were 2,884 whole time equivalents. This constitutes an increase of 298 whole time equivalents since April 2014. The number of NCHDs has increased very significantly, from 4,982 at the end of April 2014 to 6,092 at the end of April 2017, an increase of 1,109. These additional posts are supporting increased service delivery and improved compliance with the European Working Time Directive.
Nursing and midwifery numbers at the end of April 2017 stood at 36,549 whole time equivalents, having increased by 625 whole time equivalents in the 12 months from end April 2016 and by 1,870 in the three years from end April 2014 to end April 2017. Overall nursing numbers are at the highest level since 2011 with numbers increasing consistently since early in 2014. It is acknowledged, however, that vacancies remain in the system and there was a significant fall in numbers between 2007 and 2014 due to the economic downturn.
I can also advise that, under proposals formulated at the Workplace Relations Commission between my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the INMO and SIPTU in February and March this year, it was agreed that management would increase the nursing and midwifery workforce in 2017, through a broad range of initiatives that provide for 1,208 additional permanent posts.
