James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The answer to both questions is that there are a number of contingency plans contingent on the amount of NCHDs we have. I cannot say what they are until I know what that figure is. I am reliably informed that I will have a better idea at 4 p.m. tomorrow but I will have an even better one towards the end of next week. I realise people like to know what is happening in advance but I do not know and nobody can know because we do not know how many people will land here. We can only judge by the success we have had to date and see how many more people will apply for visas next week and book an aircraft to come here. I believe the vast majority of the 424 who have been identified as suitable and who arrive will remain here and will be found to be suitable. I am not as convinced about the 65 people who have applied to sit the old examination because they have not been screened and I have no idea what the pass rate will be.

I accept that this causes anxiety for people, particularly in the smaller hospitals. The rationale behind the need of bigger regional hospitals having to be addressed is that hospitals such as those in Limerick and Letterkenny must serve huge populations and other hospitals. They must be a priority. Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

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