Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State indicated that these positions will be advertised but we know from the facts already to hand that there has been a small number of vacant general practitioner positions in the north east area which have not been advertised for months. She made the point that challenges can be experienced in regard to the permanent filling of general practitioner vacancies into small panels while the process is proceeding but the critical thing is that they had not been proceeding. These posts were filled by local locum appointments. There was no explanation in the Minister of State's reply as to why in regard to these vacancies - some already signalled before the exodus of the incumbent and some we already know in the Monaghan area are due to be vacated by the end of this year - we would not ensure these posts were advertised speedily in order to ensure notification and to create a general interest in taking up these essential positions in primary care across this region.

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