HSE 1,598 under its employment ceiling

By Lloyd Mudiwa. The health sector is 1,598 whole-time equivalents (WTEs) below the current ceiling of 105,440, as recent accelerated levels of retirements and the recruitment pause impact on employment levels. Following validation as at March 9, the total number of staff who had indicated their intention to retire from the HSE under the incentivised early retirement scheme for the public service is 4,515, which equates to 3,986 WTEs — almost 1,000 WTEs higher than were provided for in its National Service Plan for 2012. The ‘grace period’ provided for by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest [FEMPI][No…