John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 158: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of midwives employed by the Health Service Executive. [13600/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, HSE, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the employment of nursing and midwifery staff. Accordingly, my Department has requested the acting national director for human resources at the HSE to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 159: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the vetting procedures in place for potential new employees within the health service, especially those potentially likely to have dealings with children; the funding being allocated in 2005 for such procedures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13601/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Garda vetting services are available in respect of public health sector employees with substantial unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults. This has been the case over many years.

The Garda Commissioner established a working group on Garda vetting to examine the enhancement of the vetting service. This working group made a series of broad ongoing recommendations to expand and enhance the State's vetting capacity. One major recommendation was that all organisations that recruit and select persons who would have substantial unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults should avail — and should be entitled to avail — of the vetting services of the Garda central vetting unit. I understand that the expansion is to commence this year on a phased basis as soon as the necessary practical arrangements are in place.

Extra staffing resources are being made available to the Garda central vetting unit to facilitate this expansion. The Deputy will appreciate that the funding allocation for the Garda Síochána is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. While criminal record checking of new employees who would have substantial unsupervised access to children is an important component of a well developed child protection system, good recruitment and employment practices remain an integral part of such a system.