Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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694. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 610 of 23 April 2014, if all of the posts listed in the response have now been filled and if any remain to be filled; when he expects the recruitment process to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25824/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to Parliamentary Question No. 610 of 23 April 2013.

The recruitment process is ongoing in relation to the of 264.5 Primary Care Team posts, which were approved in the HSE's National Service Plan for 2013. The position as of 6^thJune 2014 is as follows:

- 221.5 posts filled or start dates agreed;

- 8 posts accepted / start dates still to be agreed;

- 7 posts in final stages of recruitment (subject to Garda clearance, etc.); and

- 28 posts - recruitment process ongoing (unable to fill in first recruitment campaign).

The majority of the unfilled posts (24) are Public Health Nursing posts and agreement has been reached with the HSE's National Recruitment Service to express these unfilled posts to those remaining on current panels and, thereafter, to student Public Health Nurses (PHNs) who are currently completing their examinations. This should enable the outstanding PHN posts to be filled.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy regarding the time frame for the completion of the recruitment process.