Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
137. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is a recruitment and retention crisis in relation to hospital consultants; his further views on whether the wide disparity in new entrant pay is a major driver of this crisis; his plans in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43556/18]
View answerThe Government remains committed to increasing the consultant workforce. Notwithstanding recruitment and retention challenges, the number of consultants employed in the public health service has increased by 118 in the 12 months to end August 2018 and by 479 in the past five years to 3,032 (whole time equivalents).
The Public Sector Pay Commission in its Report published on 4 September 2018 identified difficulties in attracting consultant applications for advertised posts at present and acknowledged that the pay rates for new entrants had been highlighted as a factor in this. The Commission also recognised that the implementation of the settlement of the 2008 Consultant Contract claim, while necessary of itself, would serve to highlight further the differential in pay between the pre-existing cadre of consultants and new entrants. The Commission stated that policy responses that may be proposed for new entrants across the public services generally may not address the degree of pay differential which currently applies to new entrant consultants. Notwithstanding this, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has since published pay proposals regarding new entrants across the public service, including consultants under Section 4 of the Public Service Stability Agreement.
Given its analysis, the Pay Commission proposed that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement jointly consider what further measures could be taken, over time, to address the pay differential between pre-existing consultants and new entrant consultants. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department have noted the Commission's views and consideration will need to be given to potential solutions which are in line with public sector pay policy and available budgets. This will be a significant challenge given the amounts involved.
