Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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778. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on implementation of phase one of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix; the timeline for full implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56669/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix provides an evidence-based flexible approach to determine the number of nurses and healthcare assistants required to provide safe and quality care based on patient need. Framework development comprises three phases and implementation of the Framework nationally is overseen by the HSEs national lead for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix.

Since 2018, two safe staffing policy documents have been published, Phase 1 focused on Adult General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings and Phase 2 focused on Adult Emergency Care Settings. Phase 3 of the Framework in Community settings comprises three distinct stages: (i) Long-Term residential care settings for older persons; (ii) Community care settings; and (iii) Step-down and Rehabilitation settings.

National implementation of Phases 1 and 2 of the Framework is a priority for the Minster for Health and has received significant Government funding since 2020 to progress baseline implementation, resulting in over 1,700 additional registered nurses and healthcare assistants in clinical areas where the framework applies.

This includes acute adult in-patient wards and emergency departments nationally. It is estimated that approximately 2,000 posts are required to achieve baseline implementation of Phases 1 and 2 of the Framework nationally. The CEO of the HSE has mandated that baseline implementation of safe nurse staffing is completed for all relevant areas nationally by end 2025. Recruitment is being progressed by the HSE to achieve this.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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779. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on implementation of phase two of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix; the timeline for full implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56670/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix provides an evidence-based flexible approach to determine the number of nurses and healthcare assistants required to provide safe and quality care based on patient need. Framework development comprises three phases and implementation of the Framework nationally is overseen by the HSEs national lead for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix.

Since 2018, two safe staffing policy documents have been published, Phase 1 focused on Adult General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings and Phase 2 focused on Adult Emergency Care Settings. Phase 3 of the Framework in Community settings comprises three distinct stages: (i) Long-Term residential care settings for older persons; (ii) Community care settings; and (iii) Step-down and Rehabilitation settings.

National implementation of Phases 1 and 2 of the Framework is a priority and has received significant Government funding since 2020 to progress baseline implementation, resulting in over 1,700 additional registered nurses and healthcare assistants in clinical areas where the framework applies.

This includes acute adult in-patient wards and emergency departments nationally. It is estimated that approximately 2,000 posts are required to achieve baseline implementation of Phases 1 and 2 of the Framework nationally. The vast majority of the additional posts required to meet baseline safe staffing in emergency departments nationally, have been recruited and are in place with the remaining posts expected by end of 2025.

The CEO of the HSE has mandated that baseline implementation of safe nurse staffing is completed for all relevant areas nationally by end 2025. Recruitment is being progressed by the HSE to achieve this.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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780. To ask the Minister for Health the status of phase three of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56671/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix provides an evidence-based flexible approach to determine the number of nurses and healthcare assistants required to provide safe and quality care based on patient need. Framework development comprises three phases and implementation of the Framework nationally is overseen by the HSEs national lead for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix.

Since 2018, two safe staffing policy documents have been published, Phase 1 focused on Adult General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings and Phase 2 focused on Adult Emergency Care Settings.

Phase 3 of the Framework in Community settings comprises three distinct stages: (i) Long-Term residential care settings for older persons; (ii) Community care settings; and (iii) Step-down and Rehabilitation settings.

Phase 3 (i) of the Framework is now at an advanced stage of development for long-term residential care settings for older people and has been overseen by a national taskforce. The framework was tested nationally across a selection of public, private and voluntary long-term residential care settings for older persons and the testing was underpinned by a programme of research. Based on this evidence, policy development is underway and is expected to be completed towards the end of 2025.

In relation to the second stage in Phase 3 which applies to community care settings, work has commenced to determine a model of community nursing that will deliver and align with Sláintecare. A research team has been engaged, and an implementation oversight structure is currently being established to progress this phase of the framework.