John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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530. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to sanction the employment of public health/community nurses in Carlow/Kilkenny area; the reason sanction has not already given for these positions as part of an announcement made recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28936/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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In 2012, the HSE completed a detailed analysis of the numbers and distribution of public health nurses, registered general nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. The analysis revealed considerable variation across the HSE's 17 Integrated Service Areas in ratios of health care professionals to population, and to population numbers in areas of high deprivation.

Based on this exercise, in 2013, Primary Care funding of €20 million, nationally, will be invested to support the recruitment of prioritised front-line primary care team posts and enhance the capacity of the primary care sector.

I issued approval to the HSE on the 27th March 2013 to commence recruitment to Primary Care Teams with immediate effect of the following additional 251 Primary Care posts:

- 70 Public Health Nurses;

- 37 Registered General Nurses;

- 51 Occupational Therapists;

- 46 Physiotherapists; and

- 47 Speech & Language Therapists.

The allocation and distribution of the above posts is based on bringing each Integrated Service Area, where staffing is below the national average, towards the national average. Those Integrated Service Areas, such as Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary, where staffing is already above the national average will not receive additional posts as part of this process.