Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her plans to introduce a Health Service Executive voluntary redundancy programme have been abandoned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13149/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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If the best possible services are to be delivered within available resources, pay costs have to be contained and reduced. The Government has already introduced the pension-related deduction for the public service in the context of the need to stabilise the public finances and achieve expenditure adjustments. In addition, the Government has recently announced the implementation of a moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the public service. Arrangements have been modulated in relation to the education and health sectors to reflect the particular service needs in these sectors. In particular, there will be flexibility to allow for the continued development of integrated health care, particularly primary and community care, care of the elderly and people with disabilities. Further measures and the role of a voluntary redundancy/early retirement scheme will be considered in the context of the forthcoming budget.