Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements that are in place when non-consultant hospital doctors change job on 1 July 2010; the impact of the European working time directive on NCHDs and services offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25842/10]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of unfilled non-consultant hospital doctor posts in hospitals here; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that hospitals face a shortage of doctors due the fact that new visa arrangements are discouraging non-EU doctors from coming here; if she will make changes to the visa requirements to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25823/10]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if an assessment has been made of the likely effect of the shortage of non-consultant hospital doctors from July 2010; the plans that are in place to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25911/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 60 and 117 together.

Reports from the Health Service Executive (HSE) indicate reductions in applications for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor posts, particularly in emergency medicine, anaesthesia, general medicine and in smaller hospitals. As at 16 June, the HSE reports that there were about 289 outstanding vacancies projected for 1 July, in Senior House Officer and Registrar posts, but they anticipate that this figure will reduce as NCHDs are offered contracts over the coming weeks. Currently, since 1 January 2010, there are about 150 NCHD vacancies.

The main focus of my Department has been to work with the HSE to minimise any impact on services. In addition to changes in work practices, such as reductions in tiered on-call and better cross cover arrangements, the HSE has commenced a recruitment process with a range of medical recruitment agencies. In addition, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive have, in the last week, agreed revised arrangements regarding employment permits and immigration registration for non-EEA doctors who are recruited to the Irish public health service. In particular, Senior House Officers and Registrars from non-EAA countries will be given two year visas and will not require a work permit.

The HSE agreed on 15 June, to a proposal by various stakeholders, that all existing training posts, where possible, will continue to be recognised by the Medical Council as training posts for one further year from 1 July 2010. This will directly deal with the more immediate patient safety concerns raised in relation to the possible placement of a large number of junior doctors on the General Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners. Compliance with European Working Time Directive is a separate challenge to hospitals and to the HSE in relation to the employment of Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs). Compliance with the directive is good for patient safety. It serves no good purpose to have over-stretched, over-tired junior doctors treating patients.

I am satisfied every effort has been made and will continue to be made, by my Department and the HSE, to ensure that patients will continue to have access to hospital services that are safe, responsive to their medical needs, and integrated with other hospital and primary care services.