Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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375. To ask the Minister for Health when a position (details supplied) will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37175/19]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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376. To ask the Minister for Health when the embargo on recruitment in CHO9 Dublin north will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37176/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together.

I am advised by the HSE that while there is no recruitment embargo or moratorium, there is a priority requirement for all HSE services to maintain, or get to, an affordable staffing level that is sustainable in 2019 and 2020, while also prioritising the delivery of safe services.

In light of this, the HSE advise that they have introduced control measures relating to staffing and recruitment to ensure that they live within the available resources provided to them. This does mean that in some Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations non-critical replacement posts will be paused. The preference is for these controls to remain in place for as short a period as necessary, with on-going review until there is satisfactory evidence of traction and delivery of balanced financial plans from Hospital Groups and CHO’s.

The HSE report that there is on-going capacity for recruitment of newly funded posts and replacement of critical clinical posts within frontline services throughout this period.

With regard to CHO9 Dublin North specifically and the Occupational Therapy post the Deputy is enquiring about, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.