Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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2221. To ask the Minister for Health if an urgent matter in relation to staff shortages (details supplied) in County Kerry will be investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45190/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Dear Deputy Cahill,

Please see response from the HSE.

By way of information, recruitment campaigns within the HSE are conducted in line with the Codes of Practice established by the Commission for Public Service Appointments. These are underpinned by the principles of transparency, fairness, merit, inclusivity, and best practice. Panels are established to fill both new and replacement posts, and all applicants are required to meet the eligibility criteria for the relevant role.

In relation to the specific case raised, the HSE South West Recruitment Team has reviewed current Community Nursing panels and can confirm that there is no record of the Nurse referred to. We have also examined the list of 211 applications received for the recently advertised bespoke Staff Nurse campaign for West Kerry Community Hospital (campaign reference: SW-NM82202), and again there is no evidence of an application from this candidate.

On reviewing the documentation submitted, it appears that this Staff Nurse had originally made contact at local level with Directors of Nursing rather than applying through the formal HSE recruitment channels.

To ensure the Staff Nurse has the correct information going forward, the HSE South West Recruitment Team will contact the Staff Nurse directly to advise them of the HSE Jobs website and the HSE Career Hub, which are the appropriate routes for application and progression in the recruitment process.

I trust this clarifies the position and trust it will be of assistance.