Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff employed by her Department prior to the establishment of the Health Service Executive; the current number of staff employed in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37996/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The whole time equivalent number employed in the Department of Health and Children, based on the figures given to the Department of Finance Census Section for December 2004, (the last Census immediately prior to the establishment of the Health Service Executive) was 625.5.

The equivalent figure most recently returned to the Department of Finance was 610.98 whole time equivalents. This figure was returned for end September 2006. The September 2006 figure also includes staff who have transferred from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the Office of the Minister for Children.

These figures include staff employed in:-

the Department of Health and Children, including the recently expanded Office of the Minister for Children

the General Register Office

the Adoption Board

the Social Services Inspectorate

Office of the Ombudsman for Children.

Neither the figure for December 2004 nor the figure for September 2006 include seconded-in staff.

Arising from the Health Reform Programme and the establishment of the HSE some functions previously carried out by my Department have transferred, or are in the process of being transferred, to the HSE. This will involve a reduction of approximately 38 posts in my Department's complement of posts and a transfer of those posts to the HSE. The initial transfer of functions to the HSE involving areas such as pensions administration, Casemix and speciality costing, health promotion campaigns and hospital planning is proceeding. This matter will also be kept under constant review with a view to identifying other areas of work which are appropriate for transfer.