James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 130.77 whole-time equivalent Public Health Nurses/Registered General Nurses (including management positions) in County Galway. There were 11 retirements in 2010 and nine to date in 2011. There are currently three Senior Area Medical Officers and 4.5 Area Medical Officers in Galway. There have been two retirements in the past two years - one in 2010 and the other in April 2011. In addition, an AMO commenced a career break on 31 October 2010.

Where staff numbers in both nursing and medical grades have reduced owing to retirements or resignations, it is a matter for management to ensure that the available resources are deployed in such a manner as to ensure the continued provision of services, according to clinical priority and within the terms of the Employment Control Framework for the health services. The HSE indicates that it assigns staffing resources across the care networks to ensure that all patient care groups receive essential clinical care. Where necessary, staff provide services over a wider geographical area than heretofore. The challenge for the health services is to find innovative ways of managing employment which include different skill mixes and new ways of working in order to protect and improve service delivery within greatly reduced budgets and this process is enabled by the provisions of the Public Service Agreement.