Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Health the number of consultant doctors who have applied to the early retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7390/12]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Health the number of home help workers who have applied to the early retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7391/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.

The Government has determined that, in line with its commitment to reduce the size of the public service, health sector employment numbers must be reduced to approximately 102,000 in 2012.

The cumulative impact of staff reductions from this year and previous years represents a significant challenge for the health system in delivering services. The priority is to reform how health services are delivered in order to ensure a more productive and cost effective health system. The most recent information available from the HSE indicates that, over the period from September 2011 to end-February 2012, some 3,800 health service staff will have retired from the health service. Of this total, approximately 2,200 persons (54%) have already retired during the five-month period to the end of January 2012, while the remainder have indicated that they will leave by the end of February 2012. It should be noted that these figures refer to the number of individuals rather than wholetime equivalents (WTE). This data is subject to change in the event of additional applications being received or existing applications being withdrawn. The number of Home Helps who have stated their intent to retire during the period September 2011 to February 2012 is 192 . The number of consultant doctors who have stated their intent to retire during the same period is 93.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Health if he intends to allow for the re-employment of any persons who have applied to the early retirement scheme; the numbers he intends to allow for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7392/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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It was a specific condition of the 2010 Voluntary Early Retirement scheme that persons availing of the scheme would not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider public service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applied under the 2010 Voluntary Redundancy scheme also, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years, after which time any re-employment will require the approval of the Minister for Finance. These provisions also apply in the case of re-engagement on a contract for service which would include employment through an agency engaged in the public service.

However, there is currently no voluntary redundancy or voluntary early retirement scheme available in the public health sector. Therefore, no specific re-employment restrictions apply to persons retiring before the end of the 'grace period' which expires on 29 February 2012.

I wish to emphasise that the re-engagement of retired staff should only take place in exceptional circumstances and in the short term only.