Enda Kenny
Ceist:66 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of hospital consultant posts which are unfilled. [12588/02]
Written Answers. - Consultant Appointments.
The most recent figures on the number of hospital consultant posts which are unfilled are available from Comhairle na nOspidéal. According to these figures, there are 245 unfilled posts, consisting of seven posts under consideration by Comhairle na nOspidéal, 26 unprocessed posts, and 212 vacant approved posts. A large number of these vacant approved posts are presently filled in a temporary capacity and are in the process of being filled on a permanent basis. The current number of approved consultant posts in the public health system currently stands at 1,650, which is well in excess of the number recom mended by the Tierney report on consultant staffing which proposed a staffing complement of 1,500 by the year 2003.
Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 57.