Nineteen mental health posts still outstanding from 2012

The health service is still battling to fill 19 mental health posts for 2012 as it conceded that there are a small number of posts for which there are difficulties in identifying suitable candidates due to various factors, including availability of qualified candidates and geographic location. “Recruitment of the posts approved for both 2012 and 2013 is continuing,” civil servants in the Department of Health have briefed Minister Dr Leo Varadkar. Meanwhile, recruitment for 2014 posts has not yet commenced. The €20 million for 2014 will allow the HSE to commit to between 250 and 280 posts with all of…