Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 46 together.

The Government has not yet decided on the scale or scope of a voluntary redundancy or early retirement scheme for the Health Service Executive. I have confirmed to the House on a number of occasions that I believe that a managed voluntary redundancy scheme could have an important role to play in helping to improve the delivery of health services to patients by streamlining management and administration within the HSE. The Minister for Finance, in his Budget Statement of 14 October last, reaffirmed the Government's commitment to such a scheme.

The immediate priority for the Government was to put in place the necessary legislation and other measures to implement the €2 billion public expenditure savings announced on 3 February. When this has been dealt with, the Government then will consider other matters, including the introduction of a voluntary early retirement scheme for the HSE and other areas of the Government.

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