Vol. 539 No. 3
27 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of permanent consultant posts still vacant; the longest period such a post has been left unfilled; the steps he is taking to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19196/01]
The information the Deputy has requested is not immediately available in my Department. I have requested the chief executive officer of each health board, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the voluntary hospitals outside of Dublin to provide this information to the Deputy at their earliest convenience.
A joint working group, comprising representatives of the Department of Health and Children, the health boards and Comhairle na nOspidéal, has examined the procedures currently in place for making consultant appointments. The group recognised that the time taken to fill permanent consultant posts in health boards and some voluntary hospitals is too long. There is a need for a more co-ordinated approach to the management of the process of planning, funding, regulation, recruitment and filling of permanent consultant posts. This has been recognised by all the parties involved including the Department of Health and Children, the employing authorities, Comhairle na nOspidéal and the Local Appointments Commission and steps are being taken to improve the situation.
