Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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442. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to instruct the Health Service Executive to commence the recruitment of at least ten permanent staff nurses at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath which has been sought and committed to since October 2014; if the interviews will now be conducted forthwith in respect of the said necessary posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4625/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in budget 2014 that he intends to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. The change from the application of a rigid employment control framework, with its particular focus on a moratorium on recruitment and compliance with employment ceilings and targets, to one operating strictly within allocated pay frameworks will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery.

The HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front-line services. This is reflected in the current recruitment campaign where the HSE is actively recruiting to fill 1,600 approved nursing posts. These are across all grades and all divisions of the register spanning acute hospitals, community, ID and mental health. Many of these posts are currently being filled on a temporary or an acting basis. Following a high profile online campaign at the end of 2014 the HSE is currently processing 3,700 applications to meet current needs.

However, there will always be certain posts that are difficult to attract suitably qualified candidates to and individual strategies are developed for these in conjunction with the line managers. Where frontline staffing shortages exist, the HSE makes alternative arrangements to ensure continued service provision, including recourse to agency cover. However, it is preferable that sufficient numbers of nurses are recruited to permanent posts to support the most efficient and effective delivery of services.

I have asked the HSE to reply directly to you in relation to the post at the Midlands Regional Hospital.