Vol. 499 No. 4
127 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of hours consultants are contracted to work on public patients in the various general hospitals each week; the number of weeks they are expected to work in each year; the number of weeks they are allowed to attend courses and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2878/99]
Under the 1998 consultants' contract a wholetime consultant has a scheduled commitment of 11 x 3 hour sessions per week plus two sessions per week in respect of episodic activities which may result in him/her exceeding this commitment. Consultants are entitled to 31 working days leave per annum. Consultants may be granted special leave by their employing authority to attend courses or conferences approved by the Minister for Health and Children which the employing authority is satisfied are relevant to the consultant's work. As this leave is discretionary it is not subject to a minimum or maximum number of days.
