Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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18. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he will take to deal with the theatre closures and staffing issues highlighted in submission (details supplied) to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40917/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to thank the Irish Hospital Consultants Association for its comprehensive submission as part of the Health Capacity Review.

This review is currently being undertaken by my Department and will examine both current capacity across the health system including in acute hospitals, primary care and social care, and the drivers of future demand moving to 2030. This review is due to be concluded by the end of 2017 and the findings will feed into decisions regarding future capital expenditure.

My Department is pursuing a range of initiatives to address health service staffing, including the development of a national strategic framework for health workforce planning. The recruitment and retention of medical staff is also a priority for the HSE and the number of consultants employed in the public health service continues to increase. At the end of July 2017 there were 2,892 whole time equivalents, an increase of 105 on the corresponding month in 2016 and 700 in the past decade. There has been an increase of 722 whole time equivalent nurses and midwives in the last year.

The 2017 total Health Budget of €14.6 billion was the highest ever health budget and is enabling both progress towards addressing the challenge of increased demand from a growing and aging population, and the commencement of some significant new developments which will over time deliver real improvements for patients. The increased funding and growth in staffing within our health service are allowing for expansion in service levels and optimum utilisation of facilities.