As the Deputy is aware, the Government, in April this year, approved the establishment of a national task force on medical manpower to, inter alia, prepare and oversee the execution of a detailed implementation programme based on the recommendations in the report of the Medical Manpower Forum. The Government also decided that it would consider the proposed development of a consultant delivered public hospital service following quantification of the resource and cost implications involved.
Officials of my Department, in consultation with Mr. David Hanly, independent chairperson of the national task force on medical manpower, have been working on the draft terms of reference and working structures of the task force over the summer months, and I intend to proceed with the establishment of the task force and the holding of its inaugural meeting shortly.
The forum report sets out proposals for the structuring of consultant posts both in the context of changed work patterns and a consultant delivered service. A detailed quantification of the resource implications will now be undertaken. It is very important that this study produces detailed and accurate data on the number of staff and the costs involved.