Bernard Allen
Question:273 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he proposes to take to deal with hospital shortage of appropriately trained psychiatrists as proposed by the Irish Psychiatric Training Committee. [10021/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Staff.
The recruitment and retention of doctors is a matter in the first instance for the employers themselves. I am not aware of any particular difficulties regarding the filling of consultant psychiatrist posts. In regard to non-consultant hospital doctor posts in psychiatry, there are currently some vacancies. At national level, the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Employers Agency have been exploring with FÁS the possibility of recruiting various categories of doctors from within the European Union. This will include psychiatric grades.