Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of occupational therapists working in the Kildare and west Wicklow service; and the number of vacant posts which remain unfilled. [14952/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of speech and language therapists working in the Kildare service; and the number of posts which remain unfilled. [14954/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 33 together.

Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Governments ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare 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 healthcare needs of the population into the future.

In view of the current economic position, as a measure to implement savings measures on public service numbers, the Government has decided that, with effect from 27 March 2009 to end 2010, no post in the public sector, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, or the payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. The decision also applies to temporary appointments on a fixed-term basis and to the renewal of such contracts. Arrangements have been put in place for the health sector that aim to ensure that key services are maintained insofar as possible and that there will be flexibility in relation to the filling of key frontline posts for various grades, including Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists, to allow for the continued development of integrated health care, particularly primary and community care, care of the elderly and people with disabilities.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, and taking account of the above Government decision, 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, and I have accordingly referred that part of the Deputy's question to the Executive for attention and direct reply.