Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of submissions of interest made to the Health Service Executive in relation to the voluntary redundancy programme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41926/10]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the role she plays in ensuring that the scheme for redundancy and early retirement that she has announced do not leave gaps in crucial personnel to implement health policy decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41884/10]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in implementing the Health Service Executive redundancy programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41984/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 60 and 63 together. On 1 November 2010 I announced that the Government has decided to approve a voluntary early retirement scheme and a voluntary redundancy scheme for certain categories of staff in the public health service.

The purpose of the schemes is to achieve a permanent reduction in the numbers employed in the public health sector from 2011 onwards and to facilitate health service reform. The Government has decided that funding of up to €400m will be made available in 2010 to fund the up-front costs of both schemes.

This is not the first initiative aimed at reducing numbers. The number of management and administrative staff, for example, has already fallen by over 1,000 since its peak in September 2007. The Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme, introduced by Government in May 2009, was also available to these grades although the uptake was affected by industrial action which resulted in the suspension of the scheme between June 2009 and February 2010.

The VER and VR schemes are open to management and administrative staff and general support staff but priority will be given to management and administrative grades. The exact grades covered by the two schemes are set out in detail in the relevant Circular (Circular 7/2010). There is general acceptance of the need to reduce the numbers of management and administrative staff in the health service. For that reason, all applications from management and administrative staff to avail of the schemes will be approved. Approval for applications from support staff will depend on the numbers of management and administrative staff who apply and the overall cap on costs not being breached. I am happy to say that there has been a very high level on interest in the new schemes. As of Wednesday 10 November there had been over 8,550 expressions of interest. However it is not possible to predict, as yet, to what extent the current level of enquiries will translate into actual applications ahead of the closing date of 19 November. The HSE already have a process in place to track and monitor applications around the country and across services which will allow them to identify areas where service gaps may emerge and to address them. The HSE and health service employers will be looking to the provisions of the Croke Park agreement to ensure they continue to deliver services with reduced numbers and I understand that an engagement with the relevant trade unions has already begun.

While the implementation of the schemes will challenge the health service over the coming months, I believe that it will lead to a more efficient health service in the long term.