Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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266. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the number of nurses engaged through the public health service has fluctuated in each of the past four years to date; if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of nursing levels at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40301/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The number of nurses engaged in the public health service has reduced over the past four years in accordance with Government policy, arising from the requirement that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. The HSE can make essential staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so.

The number of nurses employed has reduced as follows:

While I acknowledge the pressures that reducing budgets and staff numbers place on health service staff, including nurses, I am confident that the reforms which are ongoing and the flexibility introduced by the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements will allow the HSE to continue to meet service demands with the reduced nursing complement.