Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, since the Health Service Executive locum agency framework was launched in February 2010, she will provide the amount the HSE has spent separately on locum NCHDs and consultants with the successful tendered framework agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35327/10]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, since the Health Service Executive locum agency framework was launched in February 2010, the amount the HSE has spent separately on non-consultant hospital doctors and consultants for placement of three months and less with agencies that are not party to the framework agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35328/10]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views that the locum framework agencies have failed to satisfy the demand for locum consultants leaving hospitals, without adequate consultant cover because of restrictions implemented by the Health Service Executive during the tender process on the locum consultant pay rate; the measures the HSE intends to take to alleviate this situation; when this change will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35329/10]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money that was spent by the Health Service Executive for locum doctor placement in 2009. [35330/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 199, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters and executive functions, including issues relating to a tendering process adopted, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply. I have also had enquiries made of the HSE concerning the matters. The HSE has advised that there is a shortage in the supply of Consultants. It engaged in a tendering process that led to a Framework Agreement with service providers for the provision of medical locums by agency recruitment and this came into operation in February 2010. Having regard to the reductions in consultant salary scales due to overall pay cuts across the public service, the HSE ran a subsequent tender competition in April 2010, where requests for revised rates from the successful service providers on the framework were sought. This competition, however, was unsuccessful.