Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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698. To ask the Minister for Health his views on reports in a newspaper (details supplied) regarding the under-recruitment of 10,000 staff budgeted for in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9219/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The article referenced has misconstrued the recruitment targets outlined for 2022 and the achievability of them. Budget 2022 secured funding for up to an additional 10,000 WTE, reflecting the level of ambition and desire to invest in our health services. However, there are a range of targets set out in the draft National Service Plan. The targeted recruitment for this year continues to address any identified staff shortages across grades and service areas.

Discussions between the Department and HSE officials agreed that, due to the current challenging recruitment environment, 5,500 WTE is a more achievable target for 2022. The upper affordable limit of 10,000 WTE is not seen as undeliverable, but rather one that will be ambitious and challenging to achieve, given the risks affecting labour supply. It is worth noting that these recruitment targets are additional WTE and do not include the replacement of existing staff who retire/leave during the year.

The HSE identified the more realistic recruitment target of 5,500 WTE alongside a more challenging ‘stretch’ target of 10,000 WTE set out in the National Service Plan. The Department has been working closely with the HSE to assess potential savings and further decisions on how this funding will be used will be taken. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that the references to ‘fake targets’ and other commentary in the newspaper is more accurately described as stretch or ambitious targets. Actual recruitment will, as always, be monitored by the HSE and the Department throughout the course of the year under the governance and oversight arrangements in place.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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699. To ask the Minister for Health the HSE services that will be affected by the under-recruitment of 10,000 staff budgeted for in 2022 as reported in a newspaper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9220/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The article referenced has misconstrued the recruitment targets outlined for 2022 and the achievability of them. Budget 2022 secured funding for up to an additional 10,000 WTE, reflecting the level of ambition and desire to invest in our health services. However, there are a range of targets set out in the draft National Service Plan. The targeted recruitment for this year continues to address any identified staff shortages across grades and service areas.

Discussions between the Department and HSE officials agreed that, due to the current challenging recruitment environment, 5,500 WTE is a more achievable target for 2022. The upper affordable limit of 10,000 WTE is not seen as undeliverable, but rather one that will be ambitious and challenging to achieve, given the risks affecting labour supply. It is worth noting that these recruitment targets are additional WTE and do not include the replacement of existing staff who retire/leave during the year.

The HSE identified the more realistic recruitment target of 5,500 WTE alongside a more challenging ‘stretch’ target of 10,000 WTE set out in the National Service Plan. The Department has been working closely with the HSE to assess potential savings and further decisions on how this funding will be used will be taken. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that the references to ‘fake targets’ and other commentary in the newspaper is more accurately described as stretch or ambitious targets. Actual recruitment will, as always, be monitored by the HSE and the Department throughout the course of the year under the governance and oversight arrangements in place.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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700. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the under-recruitment of 10,000 staff, as reported in a newspaper (details supplied) affects the current plans to address the shortage of child and adolescent mental health service consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9221/22]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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701. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the under-recruitment of 10,000 staff, as reported in a newspaper (details supplied) affects the current plans to address the shortage of consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9222/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The article referenced has misconstrued the recruitment targets outlined for 2022 and the achievability of them. Budget 2022 secured funding for up to an additional 10,000 WTE, reflecting the level of ambition and desire to invest in our health services. However, there are a range of targets set out in the draft National Service Plan. The targeted recruitment for this year continues to address any identified staff shortages across grades and service areas.

Discussions between the Department and HSE officials agreed that, due to the current challenging recruitment environment, 5,500 WTE is a more achievable target for 2022. The upper affordable limit of 10,000 WTE is not seen as undeliverable, but rather one that will be ambitious and challenging to achieve, given the risks affecting labour supply. It is worth noting that these recruitment targets are additional WTE and do not include the replacement of existing staff who retire/leave during the year.

The HSE identified the more realistic recruitment target of 5,500 WTE alongside a more challenging ‘stretch’ target of 10,000 WTE set out in the National Service Plan. The Department has been working closely with the HSE to assess potential savings and further decisions on how this funding will be used will be taken. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that the references to ‘fake targets’ and other commentary in the newspaper is more accurately described as stretch or ambitious targets. Actual recruitment will, as always, be monitored by the HSE and the Department throughout the course of the year under the governance and oversight arrangements in place.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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702. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the under-recruitment of 10,000 staff, as reported in a newspaper (details supplied) affects the current plans to address the shortage of laboratory scientists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9223/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The article referenced has misconstrued the recruitment targets outlined for 2022 and the achievability of them. Budget 2022 secured funding for up to an additional 10,000 WTE, reflecting the level of ambition and desire to invest in our health services. However, there are a range of targets set out in the draft National Service Plan. The targeted recruitment for this year continues to address any identified staff shortages across grades and service areas.

Discussions between the Department and HSE officials agreed that, due to the current challenging recruitment environment, 5,500 WTE is a more achievable target for 2022. The upper affordable limit of 10,000 WTE is not seen as undeliverable, but rather one that will be ambitious and challenging to achieve, given the risks affecting labour supply. It is worth noting that these recruitment targets are additional WTE and do not include the replacement of existing staff who retire/leave during the year.

The HSE identified the more realistic recruitment target of 5,500 WTE alongside a more challenging ‘stretch’ target of 10,000 WTE set out in the National Service Plan. The Department has been working closely with the HSE to assess potential savings and further decisions on how this funding will be used will be taken. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that the references to ‘fake targets’ and other commentary in the newspaper is more accurately described as stretch or ambitious targets. Actual recruitment will, as always, be monitored by the HSE and the Department throughout the course of the year under the governance and oversight arrangements in place.