HSE Staff Recruitment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019

Wednesday, 8 May 2019

Ceisteanna (803, 804, 806)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

803. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the details of the HSE recruitment embargo that has been put in place; and if the moratorium will be lifted in June 2019 as stated. [19119/19]

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

804. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if successful applicants who have been affected by the HSE recruitment embargo and have been advised that they cannot take an accepted position will be employed by the HSE once the moratorium has been lifted. [19120/19]

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

806. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that following the announcement of the HSE recruitment embargo persons who were in the recruitment process and had consequently officially notified their current employers are now unemployed as a result and will have to rely on payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. [19122/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 803, 804 and 806 together.

Officials from my Department have been engaging intensively with the HSE in reaching agreement on a Pay and Numbers Strategy for 2019. The key focus in developing the strategy is to ensure that affordable and appropriate recruitment decisions are made by the HSE as they need to operate within their allocated budget considering the National Service Plan approved for 2019. Where individual Hospital Groups or CHOs have not demonstrated their ability to do this, the HSE has decided to introduce interim control measures in these locations, for a consolidation period of three months to the end of June, until it receives clarity on their plans and financial performance for Quarter 1 of 2019. On receipt and acceptance of balanced plans, these additional controls can be reviewed and removed where appropriate.

As your query refers to a specific location, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter.