Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place in relation for recruiting addition paramedics and advanced paramedics in the health service in view of their important role within pre-hospital emergency care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49058/12]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place in relation to recruiting addition paramedics and advanced paramedics in the Health Service in view of their important role within pre-hospital emergency care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49179/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 322 together.

The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains with its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. As the recruitment of pre-hospital care staff is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.