Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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401. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to address the deficit in staffing requirements in nursing, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other disciplines using the extra funding announced in the budget; if he will consider a possible sponsorship scheme whereby graduates would guarantee to work in the public service in return for college fees or training; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that graduates are being enticed abroad with attractive packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31558/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is recognised that there is an international nursing and medical manpower shortage, leading to difficulties in recruiting nurses and doctors. Ireland is experiencing intense competition globally and from private providers for nursing and medical personnel due to this shortage, and the international standing of Irish nursing and medical graduates. While a number of innovative measures have been taken to support recruitment and retention of health employees, it is not considered feasible to give effect to the Deputy's proposal given employees rights to free movement.

The ability of the HSE and the health service to attract and retain high quality frontline staff shapes the extent to which the HSE can maintain and develop the health services. The MacCraith Group, established in 2013 to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures, made a series of recommendations aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system and planning for future needs. The implementation of the Group's recommendations is being actively pursued and monitored. Doctors in training actively participate in the implementation and monitoring of these recommendations through the Forum of Irish Medical Postgraduate Training Bodies Trainee Sub Committee.

A number of specific measures have been taken in relation to pay that will support the recruitment and retention of Irish nursing and midwifery graduates. Measures to date include the first stage of pay restoration under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, additional pay in return for taking on some duties from doctors and an increase in the rate of pay for the student nursing placement to 70% of the first point of the staff nurse pay scale.

This month the Government approved restoration of incremental credit for all nurses in respect of the 36 week clinical placement undertaken by fourth year student nurses in the context of the 2017 Estimates. This decision means that all nurses and midwives will have incremental credit for the 36 week placement restored from 1 January 2017, restoration of the credit to 2016 and future graduates having been approved earlier this year. It is estimated that the inclusion of 2011 to 2015 graduates will benefit around 4,000 nurses who are currently working within the public health service and potentially another 3,000 who may wish to return to the public system in the future.

The HSE is focused on offering graduating nurses and midwives permanent posts and on replacing agency staff with permanent staff. Recruitment of additional nurses is the subject of considerable ongoing activity by the HSE and voluntary hospitals. Recruitment campaigns are underway in Ireland and abroad with a relocation package of up to €1,500 available to nurses who return from overseas. Campaigns include recent and ongoing international, national and local interviewing of General Nurses, Mental Health, Intellectual Disability and Children's nurses and midwives.

There was an increase of 3,661 personnel employed in the public health service (101,917 to 105,578) between August 2015 and August 2016. The total budget for the health service in 2017 is €14.6 billion, the highest budget ever allocated to the health service and this will allow for recruitment of additional frontline staff.