Vol. 569 No. 4
221 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when a full-time consultant will be appointed to the accident and emergency department of Portlaoise General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17971/03]
My Department approved three temporary consultants in emergency medicine for the Midland Health Board in November 2000 under the winter initiative 2000-01. Two of these posts were subsequently approved as permanent posts by my Department. My Department has, in recent days, received an application from the board for the conversion of the third temporary post to a permanent post, and this application is currently being considered.
