Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied there is a regime in place to monitor the implementation of the terms of the consultants' contract; if the terms of the contract are being implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6532/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The successful implementation of the terms of the new consultants' contract will result in the increased availability of senior clinical decision makers to treat and discharge patients as part of the transition to a consultant-delivered service, from the present consultant-led service. Significant progress has been made in the implementation of Consultant Contract 2008 over the past months and this has been the result of a substantial contribution and co-operation from all involved.

In February 2008 the Health Service Executive (HSE) established a Consultant Contract Implementation Steering Group which included representation from the hospital, primary community and continuing care, human resources and internal audit directorates of the HSE. This Group has an oversight role in relation to the implementation of the Consultant Contract which will continue to mid-2009.

In December 2008, an audit of signed contracts was initiated to validate the offer and acceptance process at a local level. These processes will continue into 2009 and will be consolidated within the National Human Resources Directorate.

An implementation group to oversee the implementation of the contractual provisions, comprising representatives of the HSE and the medical organisations, has also been established.

A joint management/union public private mix committee has facilitated agreement on the detailed measurement of public: private mix. In September 2008, the HSE instituted reporting systems regarding public and private inpatient and day case activity on a Consultant by Consultant basis. Reports from these systems, which record individual consultant public and private activity, are being produced on a monthly basis regarding activity.

The HSE is currently progressing the appointment of Clinical Directors who will have a key role in the implementation of the new consultant's contract. The primary role of a Clinical Director will be to deploy and manage consultants and other resources, plan how services are delivered, contribute to the process of strategic planning, and influence and respond to organisational priorities. This will involve responsibility for agreeing an annual Directorate Service Plan, identifying service development priorities and aligning Directorate Service Plans with Hospital or Network Plans. The Clinical Director will have a pivotal role in monitoring compliance with the agreed ratio of public to private practice, and taking corrective action where the private practice limit is exceeded.

I recently had a positive meeting with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association to discuss progress in the implementation of new contractual arrangements for medical consultants. I indicated that I am not prepared to sanction salary increases for consultants who signed up to the new contract until I am satisfied that the reformed work practices are being implemented and there is a demonstrable benefit to the public health system. I am prepared to ask the HSE to commence payment of the new contract rates once I am satisfied that these new practices are in place. However, this is dependent on the outcome of a verification process that is currently being carried out by the HSE. I will make my decision on receipt of the Executive's Report which is expected later this week.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of extra consultants that she expects will be appointed in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6534/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public.

Government policy is to increase substantially the number of consultants in the public health service in order to re-balance the ratio between consultant and non-consultant hospital doctors subject to the full implementation of reformed work practices.

The finalisation of the contract facilitated the recommencement of the HSE consultant recruitment process. To date, 154 posts have been advertised and 127 of these are for HSE hospitals and agencies.

I would emphasise, however, that it is not a question of simply providing more funding to employ more consultants. 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. Government policy is to have a consultant-delivered, rather than a consultant-led service. The new 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 new additional funds.