Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1750. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the numbers of staff whole-time equivalent employed by the National Treatment Purchase Fund at the end of 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018. [34698/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing complement of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) in recent years reflects the decision taken in 2011, at political level, to discontinue the NTPF's role in commissioning patient treatment in the Private Hospital Sector.
Under the Programme for Government 2016, a renewed focus and Ministerial priority saw the NTPF's role in the commissioning of patient treatment reactivated with the allocation in Budget 2017 of €15 million and the allocation of €50 million in 2018 to patient treatment.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund advises that the numbers of staff / whole-time equivalents (WTE) employed by the National Treatment Purchase Fund at the end of 2016, 2017 and up to 30 June 2018 are as follows:
2016: 48 Staff equating to 44.20 WTE
2017: 44 Staff equating to 40.30 WTE
2018: 38 Staff equating to 36.10 WTE
In 2018 the NTPF continues to recruit staff in order to ensure it can effectively carry out its role in commissioning treatment and other statutory functions.
