Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Health in view of the fact that two junior doctors at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, took their own lives in the past six months, the time limitation on hours worked by junior doctors working in hospitals, and his plans to alter same. [57901/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The causes of suicide are complex and are likely to involve an inter-play of psychological, biological social and environmental factors in the context of a person’s negative experiences over a lifetime, sometimes aggravated by a recent personal difficulty.

The number of deaths by suicide is a matter of continuing concern for this Government. We are committed to addressing this serious issue and have prioritised the implementation of Reach Out – the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention (2005 – 2014).

S.I. No. 494 of 2004 European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Activities of Doctors in Training) Regulations 2004, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive for doctors in training, provides for:

- A maximum 48 hour average working week;

- 11 hours rest every 24 hours or equivalent compensatory rest before return to work; and

- 35 hours continuous rest per week or twice a fortnight or 59 hours continuous rest per fortnight.

There has been a significant reduction in the weekly hours worked by NCHDs in recent years. Typically NCHDs work approximately 55 hours per week. Further work is therefore required to achieve compliance with the requirements of the Directive.

In January 2012, Ireland submitted to the EU Commission a detailed Plan for the achievement of compliance by NCHDs with the Working Time Directive. The plan affirmed Ireland's commitment to achieving compliance with the Directive over a three-year time period. It committed to implementing measures to compliance, including:

a. The implementation of new work patterns for medical staff;

b. Transfer of work undertaken by NCHDs to other grades;

c. Organisation of hospital services to support EWTD compliance.

Compliance is being progressed in the context of the Government’s programme for health reform and at the level of each hospital and through strategic measures in relation to how hospital services are organised and managed.

The Health Service Executive’s Service Plan for 2013 specifically recognises the need to address the issue as a priority, stating that there will be a particular focus in the acute hospital service on the achievement of compliance with the European Working Time Directive amongst the non-consultant hospital doctor (NCHD) workforce, in line with the Implementation Plan submitted to the Commission in 2012.