Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a recent article in a newspaper (details supplied) about Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1579/11]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the proportion of Irish-trained non-consultant hospital doctors working within our health service; the steps being taken to increase these numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1587/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been asked to reply directly to the Deputies in relation to the number of Irish-trained non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) employed in the health service and recruitment at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

As at 10 January 2010, approximately 165 of 4,638 NCHD posts were vacant. The number of posts that are vacant reflects, primarily, an international shortage of such doctors. While this presents challenges in particular locations, the HSE's Human Resources, Integrated Services and Quality and Clinical Care Directorates are in response implementing a strategy encompassing a range of recruitment and service measures. This strategy has been informed by recent meetings involving the HSE, the Medical Council, the Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies and other stakeholders. In addition, each HSE area has a contingency plan in place to ensure safe services are maintained in the context of any ongoing vacancies.

Measures being progressed include restructuring existing training rotations to ensure they are appropriately aligned with reconfigured services, ensuring that hospitals with appropriate training capacity are assigned trainees and the introduction of additional Initial Specialist Training posts in Emergency Medicine and additional Initial Specialist Training posts in Surgery.

With regard to increasing the proportion of Irish-trained non-consultant doctors, Government policy is to increase the number of EU undergraduate medical student places on a phased basis. A graduate entry programme introduced in 2007 also provides for additional EU medical school places. My colleague the Minister for Education and Skills has lead responsibility for implementing these initiatives; however, the continued expansion of medical student places will impact on the requirement for additional medical training places in the health service. With the overall increase in the numbers of medical student places, my Department is in regular contact with the Health Service Executive regarding the number of intern training posts required by the health service. The 2011 Employment Control Framework in the health sector provides for an additional 40 Intern places to cater for the continued expansion of medical student places and for implementing other reforms.