Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Health his view on whether the outflow of senior midwives due to the early retirement package will have a considerable impact on the provision of maternity services in the three maternity hospitals in Dublin; if the Health Service Executive has a plan in place to provide for the safe replacement of midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4818/12]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 567: To ask the Minister for Health his view on whether the outflow of senior midwives due to the early retirement package will have a considerable impact on the provision of maternity services in maternity hospitals outside Dublin; if the Health Service Executive has a plan in place to provide for the safe replacement of midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4819/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 567 together.

I am acutely aware of the impact the early retirement package will have on the provision of maternity services and indeed all services nationally and together with the HSE, we are committed to minimizing the impact through a range of strategies to be achieved through fast tracking new innovative and more efficient ways of using a reducing resource. I have requested the HSE to prioritise the ongoing delivery of safe services for patients and to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to ensure the avoidance of risk in the delivery of services for patients. The impact of the upcoming retirements requires a range of strategic national responses, together with specific local responses.

Planning for the delivery of health services is undertaken within the context of the annual National Service Planning process. This process ensures that all factors, including budgets and staffing levels and any other emerging issues, including the impact of the retirements are factored into the plan for what services will be delivered within the coming year.

In parallel with this process, each of the HSE's four regions are required to develop a more detailed Regional Service Plan which translates the national goals and targets into service specific targets for the year in question. All of the regional plans are being developed on the basis of the anticipated number of staff that will be in post after the end of February. These plans are due to be finalized in early February. Managing the specific risks associated with the forthcoming retirements has been undertaken within this planning context and will form part of the soon to be published Regional Service Plans. Contingency plans are being developed to cover any gaps that may arise in staffing as a result of midwives retiring at the end of February. Many of these contingency plans are at an advanced stage.

The scope to replace the staff who will retire is limited. Addressing the reduction in staff numbers as a result of these retirements, as well as the wider programme of reducing public sector numbers, requires more significant productivity increases as well as organisational and work practice changes.

The HSE is continuing to utilize the provisions of the Public Service Agreement 2010 to 2014 (the "Croke Park Agreement") as it seeks to change staff rosters, work practices and to redeploy staff. This will assist in minimising the service impact. Contingency plans to address the impact of the retirements also focus on the following measures:

- Staff Redeployment – Staff redeployment options are being progressed across all services

- Streamlining- Some management structures and services will be amalgamated and streamlined, Cross cover arrangements will be put in place wherever possible and where clinical management numbers have been reduced. In addition revised staff rosters and skill mix options are also being utilized.

- Delivering Greater Productivity through the National Clinical Programmes

- The accelerated implementation of the national clinical programmes are key strategic supports to the risk management process which is in place around these retirements.

- The related work of the Special Delivery Unit in relation to emergency departments, surgical and outpatient waiting times and reorganisation of specialist medical services and bed utilisation, will also be critical in supporting the achievement of overall resource management in the coming year.

There are a number of additional allocations set out in the HSE's National Service plan that will assist in minimising the impact of the retirements on services, to include:

- Focused Recruitment for critical posts vacated will be undertaken (within the context of the cost containment plans and budgets for each service).

- Agency staff may be used where there is a critical requirement. Any reliance on agency staff will be in the context of the HSE's objective to reduce overall agency costs by 50% in 2012.

- The National Service plan in 2012 also makes provision for some conversion of agency costs into whole time equivalent staff which will be explored in limited circumstances where local budgets allow.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 568: To ask the Minister for Health the reason angiograms are not carried out in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4823/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 569: To ask the Minister for Health when the community care unit will be opening in Tralee, County Kerry. [4824/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.