Ivan Yates
Ceist:87 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health the number of extra consultant appointments approved this year for each speciality; and the total numbers employed in the health service in 1989 and 1990.
Written Answers. - Health Service Consultants.
As the Deputy will be aware, the approval of consultant appointments is a matter for Comhairle na nOspidéal which have the statutory responsibility to regulate the number and type of such appointments.
Comhairle have approved the following additional appointments this year: one anaesthetist, one obstetrician-gynaecologist, two medical specialists, one radiologist and two surgeons.
The total number of consultants employed in the health services at 31 December 1989 was 1,351. This figure represents actual persons and includes 984.6 whole-time equivalents.
A definitive figure for 1990 is not yet available but it is not expected that there would be much variation in the 1989 figure for 1990.