Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Health if he will make an exemption to the hiring embargo in the Health Service Executive in cases where it is cheaper to renew a contract with existing workers than to recruit in new staff from outside agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24561/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under the Employment Control Framework for the Health Sector, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has discretion to make exceptions to the general moratorium on recruitment in the public service in order to maintain essential services. Such exceptions must of necessity be kept to a minimum so that the targeted employment reductions and consequential payroll savings are met. The Framework also provides that certain posts are exempted from the moratorium, such as social workers, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and medical consultants.

Recently, the HSE made the decision to pause recruitment due to its serious budgetary situation. Notwithstanding this pause, exceptions are still being made to address critical service risk.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) introduced new arrangements for contracting agency staff on 14 March 2011. The new contract for agency staff is part of the approved service plan for 2011 and was intended to deliver cost savings in 2011. However, I have been informed by the HSE that given its current financial situation, there are limitations on the use of agency staff and every effort is being made to make the best use of internal resources. The HSE has further advised that there is also a protocol in place which allows for internal part time staff to increase their hours on a temporary basis to deal with urgent service needs.