THE NUMBER of staff in the Department of Health had been reduced by 25 per cent since the HSE was established, Minister for Health Mary Harney told the Dáil yesterday.

“The department was never an operational department,” she said.

“In the health board era it was never involved in operational issues. A myth has arisen in this regard.” Ms Harney said a review of the department had been carried out under the organisational review programme and an action plan would be published.

“While it would be inappropriate to comment on the report in advance of its consideration by Government and publication, the department has already made it clear that it welcomes this report and is satisfied that it provides a timely and helpful review,” she added. “The report acknowledges the department’s strengths and achievements, including, in particular, the ability and commitment of its staff in dealing with a difficult agenda.”

Labour’s health spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said an article dealing with the report in The Irish Times had depicted “a lamentable account of mismanagement and disorganisation in the department”. It had indicated “that some people have too much to do and other people do not have anything to do”.

Ms Harney said the huge change in the department was acknowledged in the report. “Unfortunately, the report was leaked,” she added.

“I say that because the staff in the department were entitled to hear from management on the outcome of the report before they read it in a newspaper, but someone chose to leak the report and we have to deal with that.”