Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 188: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will lift the embargo on nursing staff recruitment to enable nursing staff to be replaced at Belmullet District Hospital and Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo, to ensure that beds will not have to be closed down due to the lack of nursing staff to comply with Health Information and Quality Authority requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9016/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 222: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive made an application to recruit nursing staff to Belmullet District Hospital and Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo following the retirement of nursing staff members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9014/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 223: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the nursing staff numbers required at Belmullet General Hospital and Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo when there is full bed capacity to ensure compliance with Health Information and Quality Authority standards. [9015/10]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 224: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing staff working at Belmullet District Hospital and at Áras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo; the number of nursing staff who have retired in the past twelve months; the number of nursing staff that have to be replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9017/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 222 to 224, inclusive, together.

In order to implement savings measures on public service numbers, the Government 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 payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. The decision applies to all grades of permanent and temporary staff, including nursing, notwithstanding a number of specific exemptions, some of which are highlighted below. A HSE circular has issued which gives effect to the Government decision in the public health services and other specific aspects of the employment control framework for the health services.

The Government decision was modulated to ensure that key services are maintained insofar as possible in the health services, particularly in respect of children at risk, older people and persons with a disability. The HSE has been focussing on the scope that exists within the health services for reorganising and restructuring of work in order to minimise the impact on essential service delivery. The redeployment and reassignment of existing staff will also support the reorientation of care from hospitals to the community to facilitate the development of integrated care. It is seeking a high level of flexibility from staff and unions to achieve this.

In addition, the employment control framework specifically exempts the following front line grades in the health sector from the moratorium: Medical Consultants, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Clinical Psychologists, Behaviour Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, and Emergency Medical Technicians. Furthermore, special provisions apply in relation to certain specialist grades under the National Cancer Control Programme.

The focus on these key grades is in line with existing Government policy on the prioritisation of certain development areas, for which significant funding has already been provided. The overall result will be to assist in the reorientation of health employment to services delivered in primary and community care.

Health employment levels are monitored by the Joint Employment Control Monitoring Committee, which comprises officials from my Department, the Department of Finance and the HSE. This committee also reviews the implementation of the moratorium and any issues arising.

My Department has not received an application from the HSE in relation to the recruitment of nursing staff to Belmullet District Hospital and Aras Deirbhle, Belmullet, County Mayo. As the other issues raised are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.