Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Over two months ago, the day care services for elderly people in the Boyle area were curtailed. These services, for which they each paid €4, transformed their lives by allowing them to meet friends, eat dinner, play bingo, get their hair done and receive physiotherapy, as well as giving their families some respite. With one clinical nurse manager on sick leave, the embargo on HSE recruitment has denied day care services to these elderly people who gave so much to our country.

This problem has continued for too long. I have raised it under Standing Order 32 almost every second day in the Dáil. Three weeks ago, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Áine Brady, assured us that a clinical nurse manager was due to be appointed.

On 15 May, we were told that the services would resume and that it was merely a matter of receiving a letter from the Department of Finance. However, these services continue to be denied and I have repeatedly been in contact with the HSE and the Department of Health and Children, both of which appear to be involved in a turf war. The HSE wants a letter from the Department of Finance before it can permit the appointment of a clinical nurse manager.

I am sick and tired of this nonsense. These elderly people and their families are very angry at the way they have been treated. I seek a satisfactory answer because the buck has to stop with the Department of Health and Children. Has the Department sanctioned the appointment of a clinical nurse manager so that the people who built his country can be afforded the day care services they deserve?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to clarify the position regarding the operation of the general public sector moratorium in the health services.

The Government has made clear that a critical part of its strategy to restore the public finances is the achievement of sustainability in the cost of delivering public services relative to State revenues. To help achieve this goal, it will be necessary to restructure and reorganise the public service and to reduce public service numbers over the coming years. This requires that the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the health service will continue to apply until numbers have fallen to the level set out in the employment control framework for the health sector. The framework for 2010-12 gives effect to the Government decision on employment policy in the public sector and provides for a net reduction in employment of 6,000 from March 2009 to the end 2012, with consequential pay roll savings.

Based on reductions already achieved in 2009, the net target reduction to the end of 2012 is 4,560 whole time equivalents. Therefore, the net target reduction in numbers in 2010 and the following two years is 1,520 wholetime equivalents.

The Government decision has been modulated to ensure key services are maintained in so far as possible in the health services, particularly in respect of children at risk, older people and persons with a disability.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, this nonsense has to stop. The issue I raised related to the Plunkett home in Boyle. I want an answer to my questions on the issue. I am listening to nonsense from the Minister of State.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to allow the Minister of State to continue. If he is not satisfied with the response, he can table a parliamentary question.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I, too, wish to raise a point of order. The issue I have been asked to address reads as follows: "The continued embargo on recruitment in the HSE which is putting people's lives at risk."

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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An amendment was made to include a reference to the Plunkett home in Boyle.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children and no indication was given to me of the issues the Deputy raised. I do not know what is the problem.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State should continue with his reply.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will do so and I will endeavour to obtain the information the Deputy seeks as there appears to be a misunderstanding, certainly as far as I am concerned.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I would appreciate if the Minister of State would provide me with the information this evening. I have tried to contact the Department on numerous occasions.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I sympathise with the sentiments expressed by the Deputy. The position is not satisfactory from my point of view either.

The framework provides for a number of grades and posts that are exempt from the moratorium on recruitment and promotion. In addition, the HSE also has the capacity under the framework to fill some exceptions from the general moratorium provided it achieves the overall target reductions. To minimise the impact on essential service delivery, the reorganisation and restructuring of work is required. The redeployment and reassignment of staff, optimal skill mix and scheduling of services will be an essential part of this process.

The draft public sector agreement reached between public sector unions and management will play an important role in this regard. The draft agreement provides for greater flexibility, an extended working day and redeployment of health sector staff. Ultimately, this will have a positive impact on the provision of health services and allow the transformation agenda to continue.

I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Health and Children and endeavour to obtain the additional information he requires.