Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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On the 29th of May 2023, the HSE introduced a Recruitment Pause across a number of grades in the staff category of Management and Administration. The pause, which applies across HSE services and Section 38 providers, was introduced to ensure that it can sustainability deliver services within its existing resources and was further extended to include staff in the Patient and Client Care, and General Support staff categories from 13th of October 2023. On the 8th of November 2023, DCEDIY secured agreement from the HSE to implement a derogation for Disability Services, to ensure the pause does not affect the provision of existing services and strategic initiatives to support targeted expansion across key services.

The derogation applies to Disability Services funded replacement posts and new development posts in the HSE and Section 38 agencies, in regard to the following staff categories: Medical/Dental, Nursing, HSCP, Support Staff Grades, Other Patient and Client Care. A process for application of the derogation has been prescribed by the HSE and communicated to relevant stakeholders. It’s important to note that the pause does not apply to the services delivered through Section 39 organisations and agency staffing levels will be maintained as per the levels in place on 13th October, thus reducing the potential impact on essential Disability Services.

I am committed to ensuring the expansion of Disability Services and my Department has secured funding for targeted expansion in 2024. Following the Capacity Review undertaken in 2021, the subsequent Disability Action Plan was published on the 14th December 2023. The Action Plan underpins Government commitment to the expansion of services for people with disabilities and aims to progressively address unmet need by enhancing and reforming services, including through the creation of additional Disability Service posts and recruitment to these positions.

While recruitment and retention of staff is a challenge across the sector overall, a significant priority is filling vacancies within the 91 Children’s Development Network Teams (CDNTs). The Progressing Disability Services (PDS) Roadmap, launched in October 2023, establishes a set of priority workforce actions to address current vacancies and expand recruitment across children’s Disability Services throughout 2023-2026.

The HSE National Recruitment Service continues to explore a range of options to enhance the recruitment and retention of staff to Disability Services. Reflecting on challenges faced within CDNTs in particular, the HSE launched the first National CDNT Recruitment Campaign on January 5th 2024. These targeted campaigns will assist in raising the profile of CDNTS and bolster interest in this vital work.

The results of the CDNT census for 2023 are currently being compiled by the HSE and will be made available in the coming months. This process has been significantly delayed by the recently lifted FORSA industrial action. When this data is available I will be able to provide more specific information in relation to children’s services in Cork. Across HSE and S38 Disability Services overall there was an increase of 662 WTE from December 2022 to December 2023. For 2024 my Department has provided funding for the recruitment of an additional 707 WTEs in respect of HSE and Section 38 Disability Services new service developments. I have every confidence in the HSE continuing growth in line with this target.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.