Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Health in the context of the public health nursing diploma and the corresponding two year assignments which applicants undertake, if his attention has been drawn to the requirements of applicants to forgo permanent posts in the Health Service Executive, go on a new panel and take up new posts which are mainly based in Dublin region; the way this requirement impacts negatively on persons wishing to enter or transfer to the public health nursing sector but who are based outside of Dublin, particularly in the west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36490/14]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The question relates to the public health nursing diploma and the two-year requirement for people who graduate from it to spend two years in the greater Dublin area. This is of concern to people in my part of the world in the west of Ireland. I have been contacted by people who are considering doing the course or had done the course. They have families and feel they must spend two years in the Dublin area at a considerable distance from their homes.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The issue raised by the Deputy was the subject of intensive conciliation at the Labour Relations Commission during the summer between the nurses' representative body, the INMO, and the HSE, given that nurses who were due to graduate would have had difficulty in obtaining posts in their preferred locations. Conciliation meetings were held on 6 and 30 June and on 22 July. The conciliation conference held on 22 July resulted in significant progress between the INMO and the HSE. Related settlement proposals were drawn up by the commission and issued to the parties on 23 July.

The settlement proposals recognise that the situation is problematic, given that the HSE has more public health nurse vacancies in the greater Dublin region than there are nurses in the 2013-14 class who wish to or are able to work in that region. The situation is further complicated by the fact that a national recruitment panel is in place since 2011 which is composed of public health nurses who are already working in Dublin and who wish to transfer to provincial locations, including the west. In 2013 a similar issue arose prior to the graduation of the 2012-13 class. The parties accepted that this class would take priority over the existing panel for nationwide vacancies. Most of that class have been accommodated in locations that suit them and the current proposals provide for the remainder being accommodated up to the end of 2014. The proposals also provide a structure for the assignment of the 2013-14 class to posts in Dublin in the first instance and for the existing national panel to be prioritised for posts becoming vacant outside of Dublin.

A significant proportion of new posts in recent years have been in the Dublin region and other urban locations, and this is likely to continue given service demands and population trends. As a consequence, the HSE is advising applicants that the 2014-15 class will be recruited on a basis that recognises the shift in demand for public health nurses when it comes to job opportunities. This information is being made available to each candidate at the start of the campaign.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. I am aware of the negotiations between the INMO and the HSE. As the Minister explained, the situation is complicated by the existing panels and the demand in the greater Dublin area. However, there are people with young families who are not in a position to spend a period of time working in the Dublin area. These are existing HSE nursing staff who have participated in this diploma course. Will the 2015-16 class be allowed to return to their original posts until such time as a vacancy arises within their regions? This is an issue affecting western counties such as Galway, Donegal, Kerry and Cork, as well as other counties, because nurses from those regions would be expected to work in Dublin. I ask the Minister to consider my request.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Deputy's interest in this matter, which he has raised with me separately on other occasions. I refer to the industrial relations issue between the HSE and the INMO, which is being dealt with by the LRC and in which I am not involved. There are also issues relating to staff deployment. In my view, one thing the Minister for Health should not do is to attempt to redeploy staff around the country. The health service has 98,000 staff and it would be quite improper for me to start relocating doctors, nurses and therapists from one part of the country to another. I have no intention of doing so.

I acknowledge that professionals in the health service will express a preference for working in a certain part of the country, but the more important consideration is that patients need health service professionals and priority must be given to patient need over the preference of professionals.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that point. I ask if the Minister would consider making arrangements for those graduating in the next class. I will not go into the debate about the regional imbalance in the country whereby 50% of the population lives in the Leinster region and the resultant effects such as spiralling house prices. There needs to be a shift to the regions and a proper balance in the development of the country. I acknowledge the difficulties existing under the request I have outlined but I wish again to put on the record of the House the concerns of staff who want to take up these positions and who want to be part of the health service helping patients in their own locality. I refer to the big population in Galway and other urban centres in the west. These staff want a chance to treat patients in those localities.