Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Health the status of talks on staffing, recruitment and retention in nursing and midwifery between the INMO, his department, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; if he is considering special measures to address the deepening crisis with regard to staffing, recruitment and retention in nursing and midwifery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4561/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Discussions between the INMO, SIPTU, my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE have been ongoing over the past week in relation to nursing and midwifery recruitment and retention and the talks are continuing. The management side supplied a joint proposal document setting out a number of specific measures to attract and retain nursing staff, in addition to a funded workforce plan. The Government are already committed to 1,000 nursing posts in 2017 as part of the Programme for Partnership Government. These are fully funded and approved posts. As part of the engagement management are committed to maximising the number of additional posts that can be provided in 2017.

There are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing and midwifery staffing levels throughout the country. The number of nursing and midwifery staff increased by 1,650 whole time equivalents between December 2013 and December 2016, notwithstanding intense global competition for our nurses and midwives. The HSE is offering permanent posts to 2016 degree programme graduates, and full time permanent contracts to those in temporary posts. The HSE is also focused on converting agency staffing to permanent posts. Its National Recruitment Service is actively operating rolling nursing recruitment campaigns. The campaigns encompass General, Mental Health, Intellectual Disability and Registered Children's Nurses, and also Midwives. The Acute Hospital Groups have advertised a number of Emergency Department nursing posts and are currently in the recruitment process.

The HSE ran a 3 day open recruitment event over the Christmas holiday period in Dr. Steevens’ Hospital for nurses and midwives from all disciplines who are interested in working in the Irish Public Health Service. 220 attended the event. 115 nursing and midwifery candidates were deemed successful and panelled following interview. The files for successful candidates have passed to the contracting unit within National Recruitment Service, Manorhamilton. This event will be followed by a series of careers events for nurses throughout 2017 with the next one scheduled for 31 March 2017. A relocation package of up to €1,500 continues to be available to nurses who return from overseas.

I wish to reassure the Deputy that all efforts are being taken to reach an agreement and to put in place arrangements that will maximise nursing and midwifery recruitment and retention.