Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Alzheimer's unit at Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel, County Tipperary, is back to full staffing and complement; the number of patients treated there on a weekly basis; her policy on reducing nursing staff for units similar to those to administer the swine flu vaccine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30317/10]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the services which were scheduled to begin in Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel since South Tipperary General Hospital's re-configuration in 2007 began have been completed; the amount spent on these community services; when they commenced operation; the number of staff employed on a full and part time basis; the number of patients treated in this new capacity in the hospital in Cashel; and if she will outline all currently available and planned services and when these will be rolled out. [30323/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together.

The Employment Control Framework for the health sector provides for a net reduction in employment of 6,000 in wholetime equivalent (WTE) terms from March 2009 to the end 2012 and consequential pay roll savings. Based on numbers reductions already achieved in 2009, the net target reduction to end 2012 is 4,560 WTE. Therefore, the net target reduction in numbers in 2010, and in each of the following two years, is 1,520 wholetime equivalents.

The Government decision has been modulated to ensure that key services are maintained insofar as possible in the health services, particularly in respect of children at risk, older people, persons with a disability, mental health services, and cancer services. The Framework, accordingly, provides for a number of grades and posts that are exempt from the moratorium on recruitment and promotion.

In addition, the HSE also has some degree of flexibility under the Framework to sanction the filling of certain other posts (both within its own organisation and in voluntary service providers funded it by it) on an exceptional basis provided it achieves the overall target reductions in both staffing levels and pay costs. The requirement is that a post or posts of equivalent value must be suppressed in order to meet the cost of the post being filled.

Against the background of reduced budgets and staffing levels in the health sector, a reorganisation and restructuring of work is required not only to maintain the level, quality and safety of services but also to expand the range and accessibility of community services in order to avoid the necessity for hospital attendances. The new Public Service Agreement, which was ratified recently by the Public Services Committee of ICTU, clears the way for the implementation of a major transformation programme for the health sector to commence on a collaborative basis involving unions and employers. The programme is designed to achieve significant cost efficiencies while protecting the quality and effectiveness of services to the public. The position in regard to the management of employment levels in specific areas and delivery of services is a service matter, and the Deputy's question has accordingly been referred to the HSE for direct reply.