Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of financial officers employed by the Health Service Executive; the number of staff employed in the finance area of the HSE with an accountancy qualification. [19067/08]

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 health-care 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 health-care 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. According to the Executive's Health Service Personnel Census, there are 10 (expressed in whole-time equivalent terms) Finance Officers employed in the public health service, as at 31/03/08.

In relation to the number of staff employed in the finance area of the HSE who hold an accountancy qualification, I wish to advise the Deputy that the Executive is the appropriate body to consider this matter. 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.