Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the voluntary early retirement scheme has been extended to other grades in the Health Service Executive specifically care assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46776/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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On 1 November 2010 I announced that the Government had 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 was to achieve a permanent reduction in the numbers employed in the public health sector from 2011 onwards and to facilitate health service reform.

The VER and VR schemes were open to management and administrative staff and general support staff (e.g. chefs) but priority was given to management and administrative grades. The exact grades covered by the two schemes were set out in detail in the relevant Circular (Circular 7/2010). The schemes were not targeted at those providing front-line services.