Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the way he proposed to ensure the 3,000 staff to leave the Health Service Executive are not frontline clinical staff [13814/13]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health in view of the proposed reduction of staff in the Health Service Executive, the risk assessment that has been undertaken by the HSE to ensure continuity of service provision; the areas from which the HSE proposes to release the staff; and if he will provide a copy of the risk assessments that have been provided to his Department [13815/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 512 together.

The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced, in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. This policy requires that by the end of 2013, the health service achieves a workforce of 98,955 wholetime equivalents (WTEs). This target takes account of Government commitments to recruit staff in a number of priority areas - primarily mental health and primary care services.

Work is being undertaken at present by my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, to develop a series of targeted measures which will facilitate the achievement of the necessary net reductions in health service staff numbers, while at the same time ensuring that the service levels and other objectives provided for in the HSE's National Service Plan 2013 are delivered upon.