Written answers

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Department of Health

Nursing Staff Numbers

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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699. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of fully-qualified nurses employed in the public health sector in each of the past five years to date; the extent if any to which resignations, retirements or movement to the private sector has affected staff levels in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23015/13]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The total number of fully-qualified nurses employed in the public health sector in each of the past five years at end-March (latest figure available) is as set out in the following table:

Date
end-March 2009
end-March 2010
end-March 2011
end-March 2012
end-March 2013
Total WTE excl. Career Break
37,696
36,891
36,106
34,296
33,997

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. The HSE may continue to recruit nurses and midwives in exceptional circumstances where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement and this can be accommodated within the budgetary and staff number limits in place. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the more detailed aspects of the question.

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