Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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351. To ask the Minister for Health when he will lift the embargo on midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16672/16]

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. The overriding principle now is one of affordability and compliance with allocated pay budgets which managers must forecast and monitor over the course of each year with the completion of a Pay and Numbers Strategy.

The HSE are currently working with my Department on the preparation of their 2016 Pay and Numbers Strategy. While these plans are being developed, interim recruitment measures have been put in place by the HSE, which require that pay budgets are complied with.

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 a replacement posts or where funding has been allocated for particular roles under the HSE service plan.

All posts are being actively monitored at Group level and National level to ensure that clinical risks are appropriately managed. Specific exemptions have been determined for areas where funding has been agreed, and in areas of critical care and emergency services.