I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 to 236, inclusive, together.
The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the delivery of drug treatment services. I have no comment to make in relation to matters arising from grievance procedures and sick leave protocols which are clearly a matter for individuals and their employers.
I have been advised by the chief executive of the HSE that general practitioner co-ordinators were appointed in 1997 by the then Eastern Health Board on the basis of their experience in the treatment of drug misuse at the time. The purpose of the posts is to oversee drug treatment services and specifically the development of methadone services.
I am advised by the HSE that there are currently five GP co-ordinators in post, all of whom are approved, accredited and audited general practitioners with expertise in the treatment of opiate users. They report to the assistant chief officer with responsibility for addiction in each of the HSE areas in the east. Continuing medical training is a necessary requirement for the co-ordinators to maintain their accreditation. The co-ordinators are employed on a sessional basis and are not precluded from engaging in other work. I understand from the HSE that the co-ordinators are paid on a sessional basis which currently equates to €65.37 per hour.
I am advised that the national GP co-ordinator was also appointed by the then Eastern Health Board with the agreement of the Department of Health and Children to provide additional clinical support and advice to areas outside the then eastern region. I am not aware of any specific plan to review the titles and work practices of GP co-ordinators in the drug misuse field, although the operation of the methadone protocol is reviewed by an implementation committee on an ongoing basis and the roles and functions of different service providers are routinely considered in that context. At the end of December 2004, there were 316 GPs involved in the methadone protocol.