Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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700. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the HSE recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45382/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the HSE that while there is no national 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 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, however 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.

I have been assured by the HSE that any difficulties which arise for applicants will be dealt with on a case by case basis.