Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The course on which the Minister is set is about changing the system. It is a big unwieldy system and it will take time to change.

On the information Senator Colm Burke is seeking, it is estimated there are on six-month contracts, approximately 2,000 senior house officers and registrars and some specialist registrars; on one-year contracts, 570 interns, approximately 300 senior house officers and registrars, and approximately 900 specialist registrars; on two-year contracts, some specialist registrars, 230 senior house officers and registrars on supervised divisions; on four-year contracts, 156 GP registrars; and on contracts of indefinite duration, approximately 600. As the Senator can see, it is an incredible amount of staff. I agree it is not ideal. The gaps, in terms of employment and delivery, are a significant issue for us and something about which we need far more certainty.