Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 31 January 2008, if a recruitment pause is still in place; if this affects front line staff; the health services staff who are considered front line; if essential health services posts will be filled where vacancies are created in 2008; and the health services staff considered essential health services posts. [17590/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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 of 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.

An overall employment ceiling of 112,560 whole time equivalents has been set for the public health services for 2008 (111,650 adjusted for student nurses). This level of employment provides for 1,050 additional new posts arising from development funding provided by the Government in the Budget Day package for 2008. Following consideration of the requirements to deliver the priorities identified by Government in the Budget package, 1050 posts have been approved for 2008. A breakdown of these development posts is provided below.

The filling of the above development posts are to be managed by the HSE within the employment control framework for the health services and its own circular issued in January 2008. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the health service staff and grades which are considered front-line and essential. 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.