Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if occupational therapists are available from the Health Service Executive, Rathdown Road, Dublin 7 to elderly persons who require special disability facilities at home and require a recommendation from an occupational therapist regarding same; if this service has been withdrawn due to cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26429/07]

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.

The Deputy may wish to note that the current recruitment pause is a temporary measure initiated as part of the HSE financial break-even plan and will be reviewed at the end of this month. The HSE recognises that there are some critical or exceptional circumstances where appointment of staff may be necessary in frontline services. Accordingly a process has been put in place to evaluate, monitor and approve requests for derogation from the general recruitment pause. A group has been established which meets weekly to consider such applications.

Additionally, as an interim measure, it has been decided that a derogation of the suspension in appointments should be made to facilitate the following service enhancements: Staff recruited to establish and operate Cherry Orchard Community Nursing Units in Dublin; Staff recruited as Case/Liaison Officers in respect of services for people with a disability; Staff required to open a new Admissions Unit/Community Hostel for the Central Mental Hospital; and Staff required to introduce the 'Fair Deal' arrangements relating to Nursing Home Subventions for Older people.