Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I know this is a serious issue and has been in Dublin Mid-West, where it seems to arise particularly as an issue. There are approximately 1,803 public health nurses employed in the HSE and we have provided funding for another 26.7 - let us call that 27 - whole-time-equivalent posts in this year’s budget. My note here tells me that the HSE is making good progress recruiting those people, has recently been given commissioning letters to fill the new development public health nursing posts and recruitment has now commenced. My understanding is that, in parallel to this recruitment, the HSE is trying to carry out a number of short-term temporary solutions, including integrating services, reorganising work, engaging with the graduate nurse scheme to fill vacant positions and the redeployment of staff to make sure that areas retain a level of service while new staff are coming on stream. I will ask the Minister for Health to revert to the Deputy directly on the 27 new posts are they are rolled out.

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