Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

As regards the appointment of a consultant paediatrician, the Department of Health and Children is not responsible for the advertising of individual consultant posts. It is, therefore, incorrect to state that the Department failed to advertise for a replacement consultant paediatrician for the Mercy University Hospital. The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of acute hospital services and the appointment of new or replacement consultant posts. As such, the Department of Health and Children no longer has a role in the funding arrangements for individual consultant posts.

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