Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff employed by the Health Service Executive with a breakdown by grade and programme. [23928/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulty that many newly qualified physiotherapists are having finding employment in their field; the actions she is taking to remedy this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23941/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

There has been a growing demand for, and investment in, therapy services over the last number of years. A particular priority for this Department and the Department of Education and Science has been the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates. Training places for physiotherapists have increased by 137.5% since 1997. This Department has worked closely with the HSE in the provision of clinical placements for these students which are an essential component of the physiotherapy degree programme.

I am aware that an issue has arisen whereby some 2007 physiotherapy graduates have had difficulty in obtaining employment. My Department is addressing this situation in a proactive manner and is chairing a working group with representatives from the HSE, the therapy managers and IMPACT. This group has finalised an action plan and has started to implement priority actions.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people employed by the Health Service Executive with a breakdown of the same by position and grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23942/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who were employed by the health boards and Eastern Regional Health Authority at the time of their abolition with a breakdown of the same by position and grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23943/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under Part 10 of the Health Act 2004, the health boards were dissolved and their functions and employees transferred to the Health Service Executive. Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of the Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public.

The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.