James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The Government is committed to reducing the cost of the public service through reducing the numbers employed, combined with measures to increase efficiency. We must ensure the maximum levels of safe services are provided within the resources available. I acknowledge and welcome the improvements in productivity being achieved by health service staff through the public service agreement through, for example, redeployment, streamlining of management structures, changes in skill-mix and more cost-effective rosters. In dealing with the significant number of retirements during the recent pensions grace period, the HSE focused in particular on protecting and maintaining critical front-line services.

It is HSE policy not to rehire retired staff members. In exceptional circumstances, however, it may be necessary to rehire on a short-term basis to meet critical service needs. A total of 38 recently retired staff have been rehired. These comprise 11 consultants, four other medical staff, 19 nurses, a radiographer, a senior orthoptist, an attendant and one clerical officer. The HSE is not in a position to provide cost information in the time available, and this will be supplied to the Deputy as soon as possible. Pension abatement rules apply to all appointments of retired staff in the HSE and elsewhere in the health sector.

No retired member of staff has been rehired by the Department. Arrangements are in train to engage three retired staff members on a temporary basis for the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the EU. No costs have arisen to date in this regard.

In the non-commercial State agencies, two retired staff have been engaged on a consultancy basis. One former public servant was recruited, following open competition, on a part-time basis for a fixed term of five years. The nature and cost of these three positions is detailed in the tabular statement. No retired staff have been rehired by the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

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