Vol. 528 No. 1
201 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children when the two permanent consultant physician posts at the County Hospital, Bantry, County Cork will be filled; the procedures involved; and the likely commencement date for taking up such appointments. [29327/00]
205 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when the approval for the appointment of two extra consultants for Bantry General Hospital, County Cork, will be completed. [29341/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 205 together.
I am pleased to inform the Deputies that my Department approved two consultant posts for Bantry General Hospital earlier this year. The appointment of staff is a matter for the Southern Health Board.
The procedures in filling a consultant post involve, in the first instance, the submission of an application form to the Department of Health and Children, from the relevant agency, which identifies the financial and service implications of the post. The Department assesses this application and if considered appropriate from the financial and policy perspectives, would furnish approval to the agency. The agency then submits the post for clearance to Comhairle na n-Ospidéal. It should be noted that Comhairle can only consider an application for a consultant post on foot of Departmental approval.
A post approved by Comhairle na n-Ospidéal is classified as vacant until an appointee takes up duty on a permanent basis. The selection and appointment process to be undergone following Comhairle approval can take some time. This involves preparing the necessary documentation, advertising the post, constituting an interview board, making a recommendation and ultimately agreeing a starting date between the employer and appointee.
Therefore, as many factors can impinge on the time taken to complete this process, the Deputies will appreciate that it is not possible to give a precise indication as to when consultant posts would be approved and filled.
