James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that it is official Health Service Executive and her Department policy that the communicative value of Irish speaking NCHDs particularly in Gaeltacht areas is considered to be irrelevant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30375/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has responsibility for recruitment procedures with regard to specialist training schemes for non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) and is the appropriate body to consider the matters raised in the Deputy's further Parliamentary Question. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. I am advised by the HSE that, in its response to Parliamentary Question 23013/07, it was indicated that the awarding of additional marks for proficiency in Irish as per Administrative Circular 10/71 is implemented for permanent officer positions only, and therefore does not apply in the recruitment of NCHDs.