Bernard Allen
Ceist:177 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the reason a consultant dermatologist has not been appointed to the Cork Regional Hospital in view of the fact that the last one retired seven years ago. [2507/94]
Written Answers. - Cork Regional Hospital Appointment.
Under my Department's current personnel policy, each agency has responsibility for identifying manpower requirements. Proposals for the filling of new and replacement permanent posts are reviewed on a regular basis by my Department. This review is undertaken having regard to service and personnel criteria in the context of the priority afforded to each post by the agency concerned and with particular regard to the availability of financial resources.
The Southern Health Board has not sought approval for the filling of the post referred to by the Deputy on its most recent manpower submission to my Department. The position in relation to the current provision of consultant dermatology services at Cork Regional Hospital is that the consultant dermatologist employed by the South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital provides, by contractual arrangement, two sessions per week for Cork Regional Hospital. The board has indicated that the filling of a permanent full-time consultant dermatologist post at Cork Regional Hospital will need to be considered in light of the Comhairle na nOspidéal examination of consultant manpower in the Southern Health Board region which is being undertaken at present.