Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2009
43 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the extra funding that will be required in 2009 in order to implement the agreement reached on new consultants’ contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6533/09]
View answer64 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of back pay that has been agreed under the new consultants’ contract; the number of consultants who will receive such payments; the average each will receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6528/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 64 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the implementation of the new consultants' contract. The HSE's 2009 Estimate provides for €140m to fund the full year cost of the new Consultants Contracts in 2009. This includes €6.135m to meet the education component of this expenditure in respect of academic and dental consultants. That amount will transfer from the HSE Vote to the Education Vote in the context of the Revised Estimates Volume which is due for publication mid March by the Department of Finance. Costings in relation to the Consultant's Contract are currently being finalised and will depend on uptake.
The HSE has advised that over 80% of consultants have signed up to the new contract. I recently had a positive meeting with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association to discuss progress in the implementation of new contractual arrangements and the issue of retrospective payment for medical consultants. It was agreed that a process should be explored in detail between the parties to deal with the issues involved.
