Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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245. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that any career breaks offered by the Health Service Executive are targeted in areas where there is an excess supply of labour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34086/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility to determine the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to recruit, manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public.

The Deputy may wish to note that my Department recently authorised the HSE to operate a special Incentivised Career Break Scheme in the HSE as well as in organisations/bodies funded under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004. The scheme was a targeted measure to contribute towards the numbers reduction required under the 2013 Employment Control Framework, and also an expenditure reduction measure. Some 2,500 valid applications were received for the scheme, a large proportion of which were from frontline health professionals. To date, the overall numbers approved for departure immediately or on a deferred basis later in the year are approximately 360. The scope for release of further staff under this scheme is under consideration by the HSE.