Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the extent to which the Department of Health and Children is in excess of the employment target level which the Government set in budget 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18401/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Employment levels for the health service have been adjusted since 2002 in line with Government policy on public sector employment and service developments. The 2005 employment ceiling is 97,550. The latest available employment returns for the health services are in respect of end-2004 and are set out in the following table. The outturn, excluding home helps, at that date was 98,723 whole time equivalents or WTEs.

I am awaiting detailed proposals from the Health Service Executive regarding compliance with approved employment levels consistent with safeguarding front line service delivery and achieving an appropriate balance between clinical and non-clinical employment levels in the health service. The need to achieve compliance with approved employment levels has also been underlined by my Department in direct discussions with the HSE's senior management team in the context of the finalisation of the executive's national service plan for 2005.