Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Health if he has examined the current or potential impact of public service pay or numbers policy on the ability of organisations under his control to allocate and oversee the efficient use of State resources [17971/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government's policies on public service pay and numbers, whereby pay has been reduced or capped and staff numbers are also being brought down, have been introduced of necessity, in response to the present serious economic and fiscal conditions. Such policies mean that all organisations across the entire public service, not just in the health sector, need to manage their resources in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. The Public Service Agreement (PSA) has been a key enabler in this regard and the real achievement in implementing the PSA in the health sector has been to continue to provide the same level and quality of services with much reduced budgets.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Government is also carrying out a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. Under this review, it is committed to examining all aspects of public expenditure, with a view to ensuring that, where State programmes do continue, that all resources are used in the optimum manner to deliver services to citizens.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Health if he will list the number of positions under his control but outside of the civil service which will be affected by new salary caps; the specific cuts involved and any impact identified on the ability to recruit or to retain specific positions in the next 12 months. [17983/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Having regard to the ongoing severe economic conditions, the Government has introduced general policies in relation to the pay for future appointees to the Public Service and CEOs of Commercial State Companies. These policies are that a salary ceiling of €200,000 will apply to persons in higher positions across all sectors of the public service and a salary ceiling of €250,000 will apply to CEOs of Commercial State Companies. Current incumbents whose salaries are in excess of these salary ceilings have been requested to agree to a voluntary waiver of salary.

Revised rates for new appointments as academic consultants are to be prepared which will reflect the pay ceiling of €200,000. These new policies do not apply to medical consultants generally. The other health sector positions outside the Civil Service and which will be affected by this cap are the CEO of the HSE and the CEO of the VHI.

The CEO of the HSE has already agreed to a voluntary waiver of 15% of his salary.

I am aware that the CEO of the VHI had already announced his intention to resign his position and has given the required six months' notice, prior to the announcement of these new policies. The recruitment process for a new CEO has not yet commenced.