HSE staffing dispute leaves south-east task force without coordinator for seven years
The South East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force has been without its lead coordinator for seven years because of an unresolved HSE human resources dispute. The task force’s chair says the gap is seriously hindering efforts to support families facing drug-related intimidation, prompting calls for the HSE to resolve the issue urgently.
The coordinator, Chris Purnell, has reportedly been on gardening leave, while the role has been filled on an interim basis in recent years. The task force says the absence of dedicated oversight limits its ability to manage projects, secure resources and maintain momentum; a local councillor has also described meetings being cancelled and concerns going unanswered. The HSE declined to discuss an individual employee.
In short
- The task force has lacked its lead coordinator for seven years.
- Its chair says the vacancy is limiting support for affected families.
- The HSE has declined to comment on the employee’s case.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The task force’s account makes a strong case for urgent resolution: seven years without a permanent coordinator may undermine continuity, project oversight and the support available to families facing drug-related intimidation. Cancelled meetings and unanswered concerns, if representative, suggest the gap is affecting local work, so the HSE should explain how it will restore stable leadership while respecting employment procedures.
The case against
The HSE may have legitimate reasons to handle an individual staffing dispute confidentially and to follow fair employment procedures before making a permanent appointment. An interim arrangement can preserve essential work while the dispute is resolved, and the reported difficulties do not by themselves establish that appointing a coordinator would address them; any response should balance service needs with the employee’s rights and due process.
Explained simply
Regional drug and alcohol task forces bring together health services, local authorities, community groups and other organisations to address substance-related problems in their area. The South East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force works across the south-east of Ireland, including on support for people affected by drug use and related intimidation.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is Ireland’s public health service and employs staff in health and community roles. In this case, a human resources dispute concerns the task force’s coordinator, while others have covered the work on an interim basis. The issue matters because the coordinator helps oversee projects, resources and joint work among the organisations involved.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “The real reason why the only task force that can help victims of drug-dealer intimidation in the south-east has not had a coordinator for SEVEN years – and why every day, vulnerable families go without one is potentially life-threatening”.