Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Health the number of certified non-consultant hospital doctor posts in the country's hospitals at present; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of vacancies per hospital; the length of time each post has been vacant; the discipline or department in which each vacancy exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16367/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Following the January 2011 rotation, there are approximately 150 Non Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) vacancies. While these vacant posts include both training and service posts, the large majority of vacancies are in purely service settings in small to medium size hospitals.

The HSE has taken a range of actions to address Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) vacancies over the past two years, to ensure that any resulting impact on services is minimized and patient safety maintained. In many instances these vacancies are filled by locums or by other short-term contractual arrangements. In addition, the full extent of NCHD vacancies has changed as a number of NCHD posts have been suppressed to allow introduction of additional Consultant posts as provided for under the Employment Control Framework.

Approximately 450 posts will need to be filled shortly in the context of the July 2011 rotation. This represents a significant challenge and my Department is currently engaged in discussions with the HSE and Medical Council in relation to the recruitment issues involved.

I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the detailed information he has requested is received from the HSE.