Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reply and I appreciate the work being done by the Minister in the Department. I am a little concerned the final report will not be published until June 2014 and that an interim report will be published.

Nothing really seems to have changed for 2014. While I accept that implementing the working time directive is necessary and fundamental for the health service, we are running into a problem whereby we will not have junior doctors coming from abroad over the next 12 months to two years. There is clear evidence that the number is decreasing. By the end of the year the cost of those employed under agency contracts as opposed to HSE contracts will be approximately €50 million. Waiting until June for a final report will not deal with the issues for 2014. The information I have received is that there are concerns about posts being filled in January. I ask the Minister of State to convey this to the Department. I suggest the final report be brought forward from June. It will be too late then because it will not have dealt with those starting in July 2014 who will be offered contracts in April or May. The report should be published not later than 31 March. I am genuinely concerned that we will run into major problems.