Over 8,000 public servants will step down on that date, a drastic reduction in staffing that will affect every area of the public sector. It appears that the health service will be impacted more than others, with approximately 3,700 staff expected to leave.
The Irish Times recently interviewed four retiring teachers in advance of D-Day, asking them how they had seen education change in Ireland over the duration of their teaching career.
One teacher described her first day teaching over 30 years ago, with 54 children in her class and a visit from an inspector she didn’t even see amongst the crowds.
Another explained that PE classes used to be carried out on the roof, and thus didn’t happen that often.
Education in Ireland has transformed from the days of the three R’s, corporal punishment, and woefully inadequate facilities and resources.
Over 30 years ago, the health service was in a similarly poor state, although how bad it was depended on anecdotal reports – there was no HealthStat or HIQA back then.
There has been a mini furore over the prospect of those taking advantage of the generous retirement offer potentially being rehired by the health service.
Minister Reilly has claimed that this will be a “rare occurrence” and recruitment will be focused on newly-qualified replacements.
With services sure to be severely disrupted by reduced staffing levels, this option may be a last resort, however.
Indeed there may be instances where the newly-retired staff will make themselves available as agency or contract workers to ensure the provision and continuation of some services.
As the biggest employer in the country prepares to lose three per cent of its staff in a wholly uncoordinated manner, significant gaps in services are bound to emerge.
Although many grim predictions are being made, no one can paint a clear picture of this as of yet – it remains to be played out.
Many HSE employees have already spoken of their fears regarding the safety and service provision issues that will follow the mass retirement of frontline staff.
Many more will no doubt speak out in the future as the day-to-day impact of these losses make themselves apparent.
