Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Since I tabled this question we have become aware that the number who left by 29 February had increased to 4,515. That is the figure provided by the chief executive officer of the HSE last week at the health committee meeting. It must not be forgotten that this is on top of the estimate by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, that 8,700 personnel have left the health services since 2007 and have not been replaced. Of this figure, 3,500 were nurses and midwives. Of the figure that left up to 29 February on the early retirement scheme, over 2,000 were nurses. That compares with the order of some 400 management and administration personnel. It is significantly kinked towards front line service deliverers.

When the Minister stated in his reply that he is not in a position to indicate or speculate what number may leave the service over the course of the remainder of 2012, I must remind him that one of the service area plans for 2012 actually states a number and uses the language "required to leave the service by the end of this year". This is for the service plans for my area - the north east - and the Minister's as well, Dublin.

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