Vol. 540 No. 2
150 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received a submission from the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board seeking significant expansion of its powers to enable it take responsibility for the intern year as well as considerable financial autonomy to allow it to hold a substantial portion of the basic cost of trainees. [20344/01]
As I have recently informed the Deputy, the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board has submitted a proposal for an expansion in its role. The board has proposed that it should be responsible for funding, supervising, regulating and evaluating postgraduate medical and dental education. It has further proposed that its enhanced role should in future include the development of strategies for the promotion, development and delivery of postgraduate medical and dental education and create clear accountability for its delivery; continue to advise on all matters, including financial issues relating to the development and co-ordination of postgraduate medical and dental education and training; and continue to provide career guidance for registered medical practitioners and registered dentists.
These proposals will be considered in the light of the recommendations of the Medical Manpower Forum, the report of the steering group on the EU Directive on Working Hours and the revision of the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978.
