Written answers
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Department of Health
Health Service Staff
9:00 pm
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Health the total number of health personnel excluding administration and management staff currently working in the private health sector; the numbers engaged in the public sector by discipline; the extent to which staff numbers have been reduced or increased in each sector over the past five years to date; if he will further indicate the total number of administrative and management personnel at all levels employed in both sectors; the extent to which these numbers have fluctuated over the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8387/12]
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not collate information in relation to the numbers employed in the private health sector.
The following table sets out (i) the numbers employed in the public health service at December 2007 and December 2011 (latest data) by grade category; and (ii) the changes in the numbers employed during that period:
| Numbers (WTE excld. career break) employed in the public health service | |||
| Grade category | 31/12/2007 | 31/12/2011 | Change between Dec 2007 and Dec 2011 |
| Medical/ Dental | 8,005.00 | 8,331.14 | 326.14 |
| Nursing | 39,005.99 | 35,902.20 | -3,103.79 |
| Health & Social Care Professionals | 15,704.67 | 16,217.42 | 512.75 |
| Management/ Admin | 18,043.36 | 15,983.48 | -2,059.88 |
| General Support Staff | 12,899.83 | 10,449.85 | -2,449.98 |
| Other Patient & Client Care | 17,846.03 | 17,508.30 | -337.73 |
| Total | 111,504.88 | 104,392.39 | -7,112.49 |
| Notes: (1) Excludes home helps; (2) student nurses are included in the 2007 employment ceiling on the basis of 3.5 students equating to 1 wholetime equivalent - the Dec 2007 employment level adjusted for student nurses on the above basis is 110,664 WTEs; and (3) the data for Other Patient and Client Care and General Support Staff may have been affected by reclassification between grade categories. | |||
The table below sets out (i) the numbers of staff employed in the Management/Administrative grade category, by grade group; and (ii) the changes in the numbers employed during that period.
| Numbers (WTE excld. career break) employed in the Management/Administrative grade category | Change between Dec 2007 & Dec 2011 | ||
| Grade group | 31/12/2007 | 31/12/2011 | |
| General Administrative [III to VII] | 16,011.20 | 14,231.01 | -1,780.19 |
| Management [VIII+] | 1,237.43 | 1,087.07 | -150.36 |
| Other Administrative | 794.73 | 665.4 | -129.33 |
| Total | 18,043.36 | 15,983.48 | -2,059.88 |
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 staff reduction 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.
Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the work to rule by psychiatric nurses at the children and adolescent mental health services inpatient unit at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway, which commenced on 6 February 2012 and which arises from frequent assaults on staff, a situation brought about by staff shortages and poor management [8329/12]
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been engaged for some time in discussions with the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) regarding the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services In-patient Unit in Merlin Park. The parties have participated in a conciliation process under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission, without resolution. Subsequent to this there has been further engagement between management and local representatives of the PNA in an effort to achieve resolution on a number of issues.
In the meantime the HSE is seeking to minimise the impact of any industrial action on the children and their parents. I would hope that the parties, either through direct engagement or with the assistance of the State's industrial relations machinery, will resolve the outstanding issues.
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