Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Health in the context of the public service redundancy early retirement scheme, is there a forward planning system in place to ensure that front-line services will not be adversely affected; if a risk assessment is being carried out in each public hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26204/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There is currently no voluntary redundancy or early retirement schemes available in the public service. However, the grace period during which the calculation of public service pensions is unaffected by the pay reductions applied under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, 2009, will expire on 29 February 2012.

In this context, a three-month minimum notice period for retirement was introduced for the public service in July this year. The purpose of this minimum notice period is to allow management to have advance knowledge of the number of staff planning to retire in a particular service or area and to plan accordingly. I have asked the HSE, as a matter of urgency, to carry out an assessment of the likely impact of retirements in the coming months, based on the three months' notice period, queries to superannuation departments and the age profile of staff. I have also requested the executive to identify particular pressure points as a priority and to develop appropriate measures to deal with significant departures in a given service or area. My Department will work with the HSE to ensure, as the position becomes clearer over the coming weeks and in the event that significant numbers of staff intend to retire, plans are developed to protect front-line services as far as possible.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Many experienced health service staff are likely to take early retirement which will have an impact on service provision. Can the Minister refuse applications for early retirement? Can the retirement scheme be devised in such a way to ensure it does not affect front-line health staff? Several months ago, there was much debate about raising the qualification age for the State pension to 67 years. With this early retirement scheme, many people will end up retiring earlier than 65 years. We could also end up with agency staff being hired, a much more expensive way of providing staff. This scheme does not seem to be well thought out.

Last night, a news report showed how an ambulance service could not be provided at one hospital because of the public service recruitment embargo. This impacted on the hospital's ability to take in cases, meaning that not just front-line staff are affected by the embargo. I am not sure there is a plan to this retirement scheme.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I must call the Minister, Deputy.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I have similar concerns and have asked the HSE to put in place a plan to examine possible areas of greatest impact caused by many taking early retirement due to the pension reductions that will apply after February 2012. The executive will also need to examine age profiles in certain health services to identify greater areas of entitlement to retire and the number of inquiries about retiring.

The Deputy is correct that the employment of agency staff is horrendously expensive and one which we seek to avoid at all costs. With a proper plan after the ongoing analysis, we will be able to accommodate for the likelihood of deficits in services in particular areas. I accept many health service staff with great experience may consider taking up early retirement. Perhaps when they reflect on where the country is at, they may stay on to help out and continue to serve this nation and its ongoing recovery.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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It is not exclusively front line staff who need to be taken into account. One does not save money if a hospital porter who leaves needs to be replaced. We need a broad understanding of the impact of each individual who leaves a front line service like the health service, particularly in acute hospitals. This was the point of my question.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I accept the Deputy's point that it is not always the obvious people leaving who have an impact in terms of real savings, but this is where flexibility comes into the equation. People may be leaving in an area where we can ill afford their loss, yet others from areas where they are not as necessary could replace them. We could still allow people to exercise their right to leave.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I will allow Deputy Ó Caoláin in briefly, as we are almost out of time.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Given early retirements and so on, does the Minister not accept that the crisis in our health service can never be properly addressed until the measures include a lifting of the recruitment embargo? This is essential, given that many front line positions are not being filled. Only a moment ago, the Minister referred to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick. Is he aware that the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, stated today that, due to the moratorium on recruitment and the considerable financial deficit in which the hospital finds itself, local HSE management was not in a position to address immediately, even on an interim basis of five to six weeks, the patient safety concerns of the INMO's members? The Minister needs to examine the INMO's full statement. What steps will he take to address the INMO's service delivery concerns?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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We were always clear as regards the moratorium, in that it would remain in place, be examined more flexibly and undergo changes where a real need existed. Each time there is a crisis in our hospitals, the only suggestion the INMO makes to us is for more nurses and beds, but that sort of thinking is from yesterday and another country. Ireland is in a different place and does not have the money. We must pursue greater flexibility. Some 450,000 people are unemployed. We must seek to work in a different way to get us to where we want to be without relying on what used to be the obvious solutions when money was plentiful.

During the past decade, Ireland was awash with money, yet the health services were still a mess. It is not just a question of money or beds. It is a question of how we work and use our facilities. It is clear that the capacity of our system is not being fully utilised. We need a change in work practices. I do not expect the likes of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, IHCA, the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, and the INMO to roll over and have their tummies tickled, but they had better look around, see the hardships people are enduring, remember that they are in the public service and that we have a duty of care to our citizens and act accordingly.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Absolutely, but front line staff and beds form a critical part of any solution.