Vol. 456 No. 4
48 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the appointment of an ear, nose and throat consultant at Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford, to replace the consultant who resigned in June; and if he will have arrangements made for the appointment to be made immediately in view of the long delays being experienced by patients waiting for treatment. [13999/95]
Limerick East): My Department approved the filling of the post of replacement ear, nose and throat consultant at Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford on 8 June 1995.
Comhairle na nOspidéal, the body responsible for, inter alia, regulating the number and type of consultant medical staff and specifying qualifications for such appointments, subsequently cleared the post on 10 June last, but with revised qualifications. In accordance with section 18 of the Health Act, 1970 consultations are taking place on these revised qualifications between my Department and the Local Appointments Commission and I hope to be in a position to approve them in the very near future. The Local Appointments Commission will be requested to proceed with the recruitment process at that stage. In the interim the South Eastern Health Board has advertised for a temporary consultant pending the filling on a permanent basis of the post.
