Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 555: To ask the Minister for Health the cost to the State when all publicly employed hospital consultants exceed the cap of 25% in private practice by 15%. [26009/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to ensure that consultants adhere to the private practice limits set out in the 2008 Contract and to see that public patients receive equitable access to appropriate care.

The 2008 Consultants' Contract includes measures to strengthen the management, monitoring and control of activity in hospitals with a view to ensuring that the level of consultant private practice within public hospitals does not exceed the permitted ratio, which is 20% for new consultants and a maximum of 30% for consultants who previously held the 1997 Contract. A small number of consultants have significantly exceeded the private practice limit. The Health Service Executive has taken action against these consultants focusing on those with private practice in excess of 40-50% and seeking compliance with the terms of the contract. Under the contract, consultants who remain in breach of the permitted ratio are required to remit excess private practice income to the employer for placement in a research and study fund.

Where consultants exceed the private practice ratios permitted in the contract, the principal cost to the State is that a smaller proportion of public patients than should be the case receive treatment.