Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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26. To ask the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in CHO 7; the number of vacant positions for public health nurses in CHO 7; the current recruitment process in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61273/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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At the end of October, the total health service workforce stands at 136,092 WTE – that is a monthly increase of 848 WTE and a year-to-date (YTD) increase total of 3,769 WTE.

There are 15,493 (WTE) employed as Nurses & Midwives in combined community services, 1,495 (WTE) or 9.6% of which were Public Health Nurses. During the same period there are a total of 168 (WTE) employed as Public Health Nurses in CHO 7.

The Public Health Nurse Service is a Community based service aimed at promoting and protecting the health of the population. The service provided aims to be total quality service, which is responsive to consumer/patients needs, placing community based services as the central focus of patient and consumer needs.

The number of approved vacancies for Public Health Nurses is gathered once a year for the Student PHN Sponsorship Scheme and in April 2022 the total number of vacancies to be filled via the Sponsorship scheme were 237 (WTE). The 237 (WTE) includes new development posts and routine replacement posts. 

A National Community Nursing Oversight Group has been established to address Recruitment and Retention of Public Health Nurses and Community RGNs in Community Nursing Services.