Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of new employees in front-line services in recent weeks while the embargo was in place on the north side of Dublin. [27029/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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 front-line 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 is meeting weekly to consider such applications.