Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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727. To ask the Minister for Health the specified date that the designated four additional therapists for County Kerry will be hired; if he will lift the embargo on replacing staff on maternity or sick leave or retirement in regards to children disability therapists which currently are severely under staffed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32817/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. In order to mitigate the impact on front line services of the reduction in employment numbers, the priority is to reform how health services are delivered in order to ensure a more productive and cost effective health system. The revised working arrangements provided for in the Haddington Road Agreement are a pivotal element in this regard. Subject to approval by senior managers, arrangements are in place in the HSE to allow the recruitment of staff where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement. In addition, the HSE continues to fill a significant number of development posts in line with service priorities identified by Government.

On the specific issue of therapy services for children with a disability the Health Service Executive is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to multi-disciplinary geographic based teams for children as part of its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years) so that there is a clear pathway to services for all children, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their disability. The Programme has been identified as a service priority and an additional €4m ongoing funding has been allocated under the HSE National Service Plan to drive its implementation. The HSE has decided on the allocation of an additional 80 therapy posts nationally, which includes four therapy posts to support the reorganisation of services in Kerry. My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the issue of recruitment.