Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1004: To ask the Minister for Health the savings that will be made if the salaries of hospital consultants were to be capped at €150,000 per annum. [24044/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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It is not possible to calculate a precise figure in this regard, as the Deputy has not specified what salary scale or other contractual remuneration arrangements he has in mind. Under the existing contracts, the total cost in 2010 of consultant remuneration, including payment for additional attendance and allowances for extra responsibilities but excluding employers' PRSI, was approximately €470m. If all consultants (who number approximately 2,500) were subject to an absolute cap on public earnings of €150,000, the total cost would amount to approximately €375m.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1005: To ask the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive staff on salaries of more than €100,000 per annum; and the savings to be made if all Health Service Executive salaries were capped at €100,000. [24045/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The number of HSE staff in receipt of salaries of over €100,000 is 2,289. This figure includes medical consultants employed in HSE hospitals. The HSE has estimated that the savings that would be achieved if these salaries were capped at €100,000 would be approximately €153m in total.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1006: To ask the Minister for Health the average salary of hospital consultants under each of the currently operating contracts; and the range of salaries in each. [24046/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 2,503 approved medical consultants posts in the public health service. Of these, 146 are academic consultant posts. They number of consultants on each type of contract are as follows:

1997 Contract

Category I - 221

Category II - 175

Geographical Wholetime Consultant without fees - 20

2008 Consultant Contract

Type A - 498

Type B - 1263

Type B* - 326

The following are the salary ranges applicable to medical consultants working in the public health service under the above contracts.

New Entrant Academic Consultant pay scales (applicable to consultants recruited from 1 January 2011)

In addition to the salary scales outlined above, consultants are paid overtime for weekend work and are entitled to on-call and call out payments. A Masters allowance is payable to one consultant in each of the three maternity hospitals and the post of Clinical Director also attracts an allowance.

I have asked the Health Service Executive to provide the average salary paid to consultants under each of the various contracts and I will revert to the Deputy when that information is to hand.