Written answers
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Department of Health and Children
Health Service Staff
11:00 pm
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 288: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to continue to provide more front-line staff in health as needed on a case by case basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26808/08]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I wish to advise the Deputy that employment in the public health service between 1997 and March 2008, in the Medical/Dental, Nursing, and Health & Social Care Professionals categories, has increased as follows:
| Grade Category | December 1997 | March 2008 | Change between December 1997 and March 2008 | % Change between December 1997 and March 2008 |
| Medical/Dental | 4,976 | 8,007 | 3,031 | +60.91% |
| Nursing | 27,346 | 37,906 | 10,560 | +38.61% |
| Health and Social Care Professionals | 5,938 | 15,681 | 9,743 | +164.08% |
(1) All figures in wholetime equivalents
An overall employment ceiling of 111,650 whole time equivalents has been set for the public health service for 2008. 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. A breakdown of these development posts is provided in the table.
| Service | Number of Development posts to be filled in 2008 |
| Older People | 100 |
| Palliative Care | 50 |
| Disability | 710 |
| Cancer | 90 |
| Population Health | 100 |
| Total | 1,050 |
The filling of the above development posts is to be managed by the HSE within the employment control framework for the health services and its own circular issued in January 2008.
No comments