Olivia Mitchell
Question:295 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of vacant NCHD posts at each hospital from 1 January 2003 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9976/03]
Written Answers - Hospital Doctors.
I will provide the Deputy with figures in a file which I will forward to the Deputy on vacant NCHD posts at each hospital as recorded in January 2003 and in April 2003, and I assume the interim data is not necessary.
The statistics show that in 2003 Ireland had the lowest vacancy rates ever on record among the NCHD cohort. The latest survey of numbers from the Health Services Employers Agency (HSEA) shows that, out of a total complement of just over 3900 NCHDs, there are at present 21.4 vacancies, giving a vacancy rate of just 0.55%.