Paul Bradford
Ceist:85 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health the number of temporary locum consultants at present in the State; and the steps, if any, he proposes to take to reduce such numbers.
Written Answers. - Temporary Locum Consultants.
The number of temporary locum consultants at present in the State is 117. This is approximately 10 per cent of the total complement of consultants.
Temporary and locum consultant appointments require the approval of Comhairle na nOspidéal, the statutory body with responsibility for determining the number and type of consultant appointments. It is the policy of the Comhairle and my Department to keep the number of temporary and locum posts to a minimum. The 10 per cent figure is regarded as the norm given the turnover pattern in consultant posts.