Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to relax the recruitment embargo in the health service in order to ensure that community hospitals do not have to close beds due to staffing pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26188/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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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. This policy requires the health service to reduce its workforce to 98,955 wholetime equivalent employees by the end of 2013. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so.