Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 617: To ask the Minister for Health the plans he has to lift the ban on recruitment of front-line staff in the health service and in particular the scenario or circumstances that will prompt him to so act. [5166/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to a reduction in public service numbers to 282,500 by 2015. This represents a reduction of 37,500, or 12% of staff, compared to 2008 levels. The health service must make an appropriate contribution to this reduction. The National Service Plan 2012 sets out the level of reduction required in the current year. The Plan provides for all possible steps to minimise the effect of staffing reductions on services. These include pursuing to the maximum the flexibility and reform agenda provided for in the Public Service Agreement. In particular, it is essential that we bring about change in relation to rostering (especially of nursing and medical staff), skill-mix, a reduction in the use of agency staff and the continued implementation of the HSE's clinical programmes.

The current Employment Control Framework for the health sector gives the HSE some flexibility in relation to filling posts in order to protect frontline services in so far as possible while still achieving the required targets. In addition, the Public Service Agreement allows the HSE to redeploy staff based on service need. Nevertheless, the overall target reduction in numbers must be met, which will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge.