Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 547: To ask the Minister for Health if he will move towards a position of recruiting more graduates rather than allowing such high overtime expenditure to continue in County Kerry (details supplied); if he will consider easing the recruitment embargo and giving unemployed nurses an opportunity to work using this budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32435/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Employment Control Framework for the health sector exempts certain grades and posts from the moratorium on recruitment. These include some nursing posts. The Framework also allows the HSE discretion to fill non-exempted posts on exceptional grounds in order to maintain essential services.

The number of such exceptions must of necessity be kept to a minimum given the need to make reductions in employment numbers and associated pay savings.

In July 2011, the HSE decided to introduce a general recruitment pause to assist with addressing the serious budgetary overrun. This decision must be seen in the context of a possible full year deficit of over €300 million (at its current rate of spending) and the need for the Executive to balance its budget by the end of the year.