Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 871: To ask the Minister for Health his proposals to reduce the cost and amount of administration in the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23045/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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While I recognise that the public health service, as with all health systems, requires managers and administrators to run effectively, nonetheless, I am of the view that there is scope for a reduction in the number of management/administrative staff in the health sector. This is necessary to ensure that we have streamlined and effective structures and also to enable staffing resources to be focused to the maximum extent on front-line patient care. The Government is committed in line with the Programme for Government to reducing numbers in the Civil/Public Service in the period to 2015, while protecting front-line services as far as possible. A comprehensive review of expenditure is underway to examine all areas where savings and numbers reductions might be identified. The results of this review are expected in the Autumn when the Government will consider its recommendations. There are, however, no plans at this time to introduce a voluntary redundancy/early retirement scheme in the Civil/Public Service.