Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of paramedical grade posts in each profession which are currently vacant in primary, acute and long stay services in County Roscommon; the number of posts which are currently filled in each profession on a permanent and a temporary basis; the steps which she is taking to fill the outstanding posts; the plans for new development posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28846/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of paramedical grade posts in each profession which are currently vacant in primary, acute and long stay services in County Leitrim; the number of posts which are currently filled in each profession on a permanent and a temporary basis; the steps she is taking to fill the outstanding posts; the plans for new development posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28847/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.

Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's 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 invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the health care needs of the population in the future. Subject to overall parameters set by the Government, the HSE is responsible for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the HSE 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 HSE is the appropriate body to provide information about the number of posts employed in each sector of the allied health and social care professional grades. The overall employment ceiling for the public health services in 2008 provides for 1,050 additional new posts arising from development funding provided by the Government in the Budget Day package for 2008. The filling of these development posts, which cover a range of services including Older People, Palliative Care, Disability, Cancer and Population Health, is to be managed by the HSE within the employment control framework for the health services. My Department has asked the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the HSE to arrange to have the matters raised by the Deputy investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.