Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that there are enough public health nurses in the Health Service Executive primary and community care sector to maintain levels of care in the community now and to deal with the anticipated workload for public health nurses in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12056/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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At the end of December 2006 there were a total of 1,674 whole time equivalent public health nurses (1,978 individual public health nurses) employed by the Health Service Executive. This year the HSE is sponsoring 156 nurses to undertake the higher diploma in Public Health Nursing. The annual cost of this programme is in excess of €7 million. The projected supply from these training courses is expected to meet current demand.

In addition to public health nurses, care in the community is delivered by a mix of different skills and disciplines e.g. registered general nurses, home helps and health care assistants. In certain geographical areas, public health nurse vacancies are waiting to be filled. In these areas, registered general nurses and health care assistants are employed to enhance the skill mix and maximise the services of the existing public health nurses in that area.

Primary Care Teams, of which nursing will be a key component, are currently being developed by the HSE in line with the Primary Care Strategy and the targets set in the Towards 2016 agreement. The precise composition of teams will depend on the needs, demographics and geographic location of the population served. Recruitment of staff for the teams is ongoing.

I have no doubt that the HSE fully recognises that workforce planning is a dynamic process and must continue to be conscious of future developments and additional future demands particularly, in the context of the most effective use of all human resources and skill mix.