Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No. This has been practically completed and it involves a very detailed assessment of how we can make sure that the configuration of personnel is more at the front line than in the administrative area. It also recognises, in fairness to those who work in support services, that the actual allocation of resources for people in those services is not totally out of kilter with international practice. There is room for people to reconfigure on the basis of industrial relations practice and of trying to do the job properly. Facile, simple solutions are not the way. Changes have been made by the HSE. There has been a range of real successes. There is an acknowledgement and understanding that the status quo is not sustainable going forward, that we are changing the service delivery model in the health service, that we must move more into the community and primary care area and that a changeover is taking place.

The HSE has confirmed that there has been a greater rate of increase in public health——

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