Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason nine people including a person (details supplied) were offered a permanent nursing position on 15 August 2007 and were subsequently told due to the embargo on recruitment introduced on 4 September 2007 that no position, temporary or otherwise was offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12846/08]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the recruitment freeze is still in place in Letterkenny General Hospital and St Conal's; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12850/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together.

The recruitment pause put in place in September 2007 was initiated as part of the HSE financial break-even plan to facilitate the delivery of services on budget in accordance with the provisions of the 2007 National Service Plan. This pause did not involve random job cuts but did mean that the recruitment of staff to approved positions was delayed. The HSE put in place a derogation process to deal with the filling of essential posts to protect front-line services and close to 900 posts were approved under this process.

This temporary pause in recruitment ended on 31st December 2007 and any posts falling vacant from 1st January 2008 can be filled subject to the provisions Circular 01/2008. This circular sets out the HSE Employment Control Framework for 2008 and is aimed at ensuring that health services are delivered in accordance with the provisions of the 2008 National Service Plan and within the funding provided by Government.

The Employment Control Framework provides for the filling of vacancies arising in 2008, the filling of approved and funded service development posts not filled at the end of 2007 and new service developments in 2008.

As the Deputy will be aware, 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.