Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she plans to lift the cap on medical staffing levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20926/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The 2005 employment ceiling for the health service is 97,550 in whole time equivalent terms. Within this national ceiling, there is no specific cap on the number of medical personnel which may be employed. It is a matter for the Health Service Executive, as part of its management of the employment ceiling, to determine the appropriate staffing mix required to deliver its service plan priorities.

Since the end of 1997 there has been a 41% increase in the number of medical and dental personnel working in the health services, bringing the total number to 7,031 — an increase of 2,037 — whole time equivalents at the end of 2004.