Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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77. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made in the preparation of the 2016 pay and numbers strategy; when the strategy will be submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13703/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Arising from Budget 2015, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced an easing of restrictions on the employment of additional staff. Submission of a Pay and Numbers Strategy, outlining planned staffing levels and pay/pensions expenditure was required to obtain sanction for the lifting of the moratorium and Employment Control Framework arrangements.

This change allows for greater autonomy to be delegated to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels within allocated pay frameworks. It also provides for further recruitment flexibility, for example where it is determined that offering permanent contracts can achieve more economical service delivery than agency usage.

The HSE are currently working with my Department on the preparation of their 2016 Pay and Numbers Strategy. This has involved the development of ‘bottom up’ workforce plans at hospital and community service level. Recent measures taken in relation to service areas in the HSE remaining within budget have been portrayed, incorrectly, as a recruitment freeze.

These measures do not impact on a hospital’s ability to recruit where funding exists to facilitate that recruitment; for example in the case of replacement posts or where funding has been allocated for particular roles under the HSE service plan. Recruitment can also take place in areas of critical care and emergency services.

A draft Pay and Numbers Strategy has recently been submitted by the HSE and the details of this submission are currently being examined by officials within my Department.

I want to assure you that this government is fully aware of the difficulties and challenges that are currently faced by health service staff, in delivering care and there is a real focus within our health service on recruitment and retention of staff.

Finally I would take the opportunity to confirm my intention to continue to grow the health budget as the economy improves and to obtain the resources necessary to improve working conditions for front line staff and to enable us deliver the level of service that we all want to provide to our patients.