Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Jun 1992

Vol. 420 No. 9

Written Answers. - Community Ophthalmic Physicians.

Paul McGrath

Question:

143 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will outline for each health board (a) the number of community ophthalmic physicians employed, (b) if the positions are part-time or fulltime, (c) if they are temporary or permanent positions and (d) in the case of permanent positions, if the posts were advertised and, if not, the reason for this.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The data requested by the Deputy has been furnished by the respective health boards and is set out in the following tabular statement:

Community Ophthalmic Physicians employed by Health Boards at 31 May 1992¹.

Health Boards	No. of Persons employed as COPs by each Health Board.	No. of Full-Time COPs.	No. of Part-Time/ Sessional COPs.	No. of Temporary COPs.	No. of Permanent COPs.
EHB	5	—	5	5	—
MHB	4	—	4	2	2
MWHB	4	—	4	3	1
NEHB	8	—	8	8	—
NWHB	3	1	2	3	—
SEHB	5	1	4	5	—
SHB	2	—	2	2	—
WHB	4	—	4	—	4

¹ As some Community Ophthalmic Physicians are employed by more than one health board, there is an overlap in respect of the data shown for some of the health boards and the tabular statement should be read accordingly.

Health boards were authorised in August, 1991 to establish the grade of Community Ophthalmic Physician on a permanent basis. As an exceptional measure, provisions were made to enable the boards to offer permanent appointment, without competition, to certain long term holders of temporary appointments. This process is still on-going.

In the normal course, following these exceptional appointments, all future permanent appointments to the grade will be made in the usual manner where professional grades are concerned. That is, by way of open competition organised by the Local Appointments Commission.

So far, the boards have been able to meet their service requirements through their existing COPs and no board has as yet applied to recruit through the LAC.