Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that the new consultants' contract sufficiently deals with issues of consultant work practices in co-located hospitals or if she expects that the contract will have to be renegotiated to deal with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45639/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy will be aware that new contractual arrangements for medical consultants were agreed with their representative organisations earlier this year following more than four years of protracted negotiations. I am satisfied with the provisions in the contract dealing with consultants working in co-located hospitals and I have no plans to renegotiate any aspect of the contract. However, in accordance with the recommendation of Mr Mark Connaughton SC, independent chairman of the consultant contract talks, discussions will take place between health service employers and the consultants representative organisations on the practical issues arising from co-location, when appropriate.

The entitlement of consultants to engage in private practice in co-located hospitals is dependent on their contract type. Consultants with Type A contracts will not engage in any private practice. Consultants who hold types B, B* and C contracts may engage in private practice in co-located hospitals up to a maximum of 20% of total clinical throughput (30% for existing consultants).

Under the contract the ratio of public to private practice will be implemented through the Clinical Directorate structure and the implementation of this ratio will be the subject of audit, including audit by my Department.

Clinical Directors will have a pivotal role in monitoring compliance by individual consultants with the ratio of public to private practice stipulated in their contracts, taking corrective action if the private practice limit is being exceeded.

The new contract also provides for the introduction of Clinical Directorate Service Plans. These will cover the organisation and delivery of front-line services and will incorporate individual consultant's work schedules. In developing the Directorate Service Plan, the Clinical Director will determine the monthly work schedule for consultants and how each consultant's commitment will be discharged to achieve the planned level of output.