Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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1702.To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the recruitment policy operated by the HSE; if he is aware that all posts vacant at the end of 2023 are now non-existent, that unfunded posts are now funded posts, and if any person leaves their post in the future, that post is not guaranteed to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34376/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE), working with the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has, as a result, finalised its Pay and Numbers Strategy for 2024. There is now a new approved maximum Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) health staff figure for the HSE of 129,753 (excludes Disability).

The funding of these posts removes the obstacle to normal recruitment and replacement in the remainder of the workforce, within the new agreed maximum number.

Instead, each of the six HSE Health Regions and each national service will be provided with its own specified number of WTEs and can within that approved number, replace, recruit, and prioritise as they see fit.

A Health Region or national service will be able to prioritise filling vacancies that may arise within the allocation. They can also re-prioritise should they wish and remain adaptive, within overall national policy and guidance.

The allocation will include a limit on agency and overtime spend to accompany the WTE allocation.

All previous years vacancies will have to have service assessment and be applied for using the new model. The announcement also allows for the regularisation of 2,000 posts for which the HSE had recruited but up to now were not funded for, and a further 2,000 posts recruited temporarily to support services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and which are still in place.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1703.To ask the Minister for Health the current recruitment situation for specialist orthodontists in Limerick; when the waiting times will reduce; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34380/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.