Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the 32 local health offices of the HSE will be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9496/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As indicated in the Health Service Executive's organisational design, the local health offices will be key units of delivery for its primary community and continuing care directorate. Each local health office will be located within the existing 32 community care offices. At present there is a general manager assigned with responsibility for managing all community based services from these offices. Following the filling of the local health office manager positions these roles will be expanded to reflect the design of the local health office in delivering all non-acute services in the respective functional areas.

The process for filling the position of manager of each of the local health offices is underway. The agreement reached between the Health Service Executive and IMPACT on the re-assignment of senior managers in December 2004, provides that appointments are to be made to the following positions: director regional health office — four posts; national hospitals office assistant director — four posts; hospital network manager — ten posts; local health office manager — 32 posts; primary community and continuing care assistant director — six posts; primary community and continuing care national care group manager — seven posts; and population health assistant director — two posts.

The Health Service Executive has informed me that the Public Appointments Service has been engaged to conduct the filling of these positions and the recruitment process is now underway. Eligible candidates were invited to apply for the relevant posts before 28 February 2005.

Interviews have commenced for some posts while others, including the local health office manager posts, are currently being scheduled. As the Deputy will appreciate with candidate pools ranging from 50 to over 100 for certain posts, this process will take some time. However, it is intended to complete the interview process by the end of May 2005.