Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of nurses employed in the public sector for each of the following years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31349/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The following table shows the number of nurses and midwives employed in the public health service in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and latest available figure for 2006.

The health service has been successful in attracting nurses and midwives into the workforce over the last number of years. The number of whole time equivalent nurses and midwives employed in the public health service has increased by 10,207 (39.9%) during the period 1997 to June 2006. In addition to the above, the Government has provided significantly enhanced education programmes for student nurses. A total of 1,880 places on undergraduate nursing and midwifery education programmes are now available each year.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of speech and language therapists vacancies in the public health sector in the Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31350/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Employment information collected by my Department refers to numbers employed rather than to vacancies. As the question relates to human resource management issues which are matters for the Health Service Executive, the parliamentary affairs division of the executive has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy in regard to the information sought.