Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the extent of the requirement of nurses throughout the public health sector through each of the past five years to date; the extent to which this requirement is being met; if the public service recruitment embargo has created any particular problems in meeting requirements to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14010/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Croke Park Agreement has been crucial to the health service’s ability to manage through the very difficult circumstances of recent years. The flexibility and adaptability shown by staff has meant that even with reducing staff numbers, service levels have largely been maintained and indeed performance in relation to certain key indicators, for example Emergency Departments and hospital waiting lists, has improved. Where critical service needs are concerned, limited recruitment of key staff has taken place.

The HSE National Service Plan for 2013 provides for implementation of a focussed approach to the management of the staffing resource in order to deliver the service objectives of the plan, while controlling payroll and related costs. Objectives to be advanced include: Specific priority work practice changes for identified health disciplines; Systematic reviews of rosters, skill mix and staffing levels; Increased use of re-deployment; and Further productivity increases.

The number (WTE excluding career break) of nurses employed in the public health service for each year from end-2008 to end-2012 is as follows:

2008 - 38,108

2009 - 37,466

2010 - 36,503

2011 - 35,902

2012 - 34,637