James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost to employ the recommended number of neurologists and relevant staff up from the current number of approved posts of 24 to 42; the number of the approved posts actually occupied; her plans to fill the recommended posts up to 42; the timeline in which the posts will be filled; the funding she has in budget 2009 for new neurologist posts; the way she proposes to deal with the waiting time of 18 months to 2 years for a patient to see a neurologist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1289/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have identified the development of neurology services as a priority in recent years. Additional revenue funding of €7m was allocated to the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2006 and 2007 for the development of services in the area of neurosciences, which comprises neurology, neurophysiology and neurosurgery. This investment has helped to increase the number of approved consultant neurology posts which now stands at 24 compared with 14 in 2003. Additional revenue funding of €850,000 has been included in the HSE's 2009 National Service Plan to support the further development of neurosciences, including neurology.

The creation and funding of further consultant posts will be driven by service priorities, as reflected in the HSE's Annual Service Plan, and the policy of achieving a better balance between the numbers of consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors. There is to be a significant reduction in the number of Non Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) employed in each of the years 2009, 2010 and 2011. This would generate savings that would be used to fund the recruitment of additional consultants. Government policy is to have a consultant-delivered, rather than a consultant-led service. The new consultant contract is designed to support this and, as in many areas of our health services, service improvements will depend to a much greater extent on mobilising and re-configuring existing resources than on additional funds.

My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy on the specific issues raised.