Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of former employees who have been brought back to work on contract, or others employed on contract to do work which has traditionally been done in-house amongst her Department and the agencies under her authority; and the way in which this practice fits with the intention of an embargo on recruitment. [36453/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Employment information for the health service is collected through the health services personnel census on a quarterly basis and the latest available verified data is in respect of end-June 2005, when employment levels stood at 100,934 personnel in whole-time equivalent terms. The census collects data in respect of actual employment and does not include information on persons working on a contract for service.

The Deputy should note that there is no embargo on recruitment in the heath service and that approved employment levels for the health service have been adjusted in line with Government policy on public sector employment and also to take account of specific policy measures aimed at increasing service levels for patients. The employment ceiling for the health service currently stands at 97,550, in whole-time equivalent terms. This ceiling reflects not only the 600 post adjustment required by the Government decision on public sector numbers in 2002 but also includes an increase of 1,200 posts in respect of the opening of new units in 2005. Further increases in the employment ceiling for the health service in 2005 are being finalised by my Department and the Department of Finance in respect of both the accident and emergency initiative and the Disabilities Act 2005.

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 management of health service staffing in line with the employment ceiling, service plan priorities and new developments. Accordingly, my Department has requested the HSE's acting national director of human resources to investigate the matter raised and reply directly to the Deputy in respect of the HSE.

My Department currently holds a short-term contract with a past employee to provide specialist expert advice on medical equipment, and uses the services of a past employee of a voluntary organisation to provide advice in respect of intellectual disabilities. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to agencies directly under the aegis of my Department is being sought from each of the agencies concerned, and I will revert to the Deputy in the matter as quickly as possible.