Vol. 534 No. 1
53 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Children's Hospital at Tallaght, Dublin 24, has requested seven additional consultants to fulfil the full medical requirements for children in the general catchment area; the position of his Department in respect of sanctioning additional consultants for this hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8596/01]
Services at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital, are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. I am advised by the authority that it has received applications for a number of additional consultant medical staff appointments from the hospital for the continued development of paediatric services to serve the needs of the catchment area. These applications are at present being considered by the authority in the context of the development of paediatric services and the level of resources available; my Department has no function in the matter at this stage. I might also point out that the final decision in relation to new consultant posts is a matter for Comhairle Na nOspidéal, the statutory body whose main function is to regulate the appointment of consultant medical staff in hospitals providing services under the Health Acts.
