Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach has stated on a number of occasions that he should be congratulated on the state of the health services. On the last day of some accountability in this forum, what are the Government's proposals in respect of front-line staff in the health services? The Taoiseach may recall that on 31 March, a document issued and signed by the director of human resources for the HSE indicated that as a result of a Government directive up to 1,000 job cuts would have to take place by the end of 2007. The directive, referenced 04/2002, stated that 29 jobs would be cut from corporate functions, 959 from hospital or primary and community case services. In that figure, Cork University Hospital will lose 25 staff and the maternity unit at the hospital, which is already understaffed, will lose six staff. Even the hospital closest to the Taoiseach's heart, the Mater, will lose 23 staff and the hospital for sick children will lose 13. On the radio the Taoiseach confirmed that the Government did not mind if these were front-line staff or not. The Minister for Health and Children stated that the current level of services would have to be delivered by 1,000 fewer staff. If we have a world class health service, why could we not reform this to protect front-line staff, given the massive administrative bureaucracy that exists in the HSE?

I and other Members know of front-line staff, particularly nurses, who had scheduled holidays but were called back because staff were not available to cover them. This is a real problem. Did the Government direct the HSE to reduce staff by 1,000? The directive states: "As part of the Government's decision to authorise a new approved employment ceiling, there is a requirement on the HSE to effect a 1,000 whole-time equivalent reduction by the end of 2007." What is in store for front-line staff — nurses, ambulance drivers, and doctors as distinct from the massive bureaucratic bulge that exists in the central portion of the HSE? Is the directive correct and is it the consequence of a Government decision that 1,000 whole-time equivalent staff are to be cut by the end of the year?

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