Vol. 569 No. 3
341 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of the various hospital consultants currently practising here; the number practising in the 1970s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17814/03]
According to Comhairle na nOspidéal there were 956 hospital consultants in the health care service in 1975. The present consultant establishment, at 1 January 2003, was 1,731. This represents an increase of 81% over the 28 year period. Since 1997, consultant numbers have increased by 439 – an increase of 34%. The present number of consultants is well in excess of the number recommended by the Tierney Report on Consultant Staffing, which proposed a staffing complement of 1,500 by 2003. As part of its work, the national task force on medical staffing has been examining the implications of a consultant provided service. It is envisaged this would entail the appointment of a large number of additional consultants under a revised contract. The task force is current finalising its report.
