Written answers

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Department of Health

Medical Internships

Photo of Anne FerrisAnne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the number of medical internships made available by the Health Service Executive National Recruitment Service for uptake in 2012; if all eligible Irish medical graduates received medical internship places within the public health system in 2012; if all Irish medical graduates did not receive internships, if he will identify the number of places that were awarded to Irish, EEA and non-EEA applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9606/13]

Photo of Anne FerrisAnne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the number of medical internship places to be made available within the Health Service Executive in 2013 for newly graduated medical doctors; if he will identify the number of stage 1 applications received for intern training posts for 2013/2014 from Irish, EEA and non-EEA applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9607/13]

Photo of Anne FerrisAnne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if priority is or will be given to eligible Irish graduate applicants should there be insufficient places to facilitate all eligible applicants in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9608/13]

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health his views on reports that due to the increased number of medical school graduates this year it is anticipated that in July 2013 there will be a shortage of intern places for both EU and non EU graduates of Irish medical schools [9939/13]

Photo of Paul ConnaughtonPaul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address the deficit of intern places for medical graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10237/13]

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the number of medical students that are expected to graduate here this year; the number of intern places that will be available within the Health Service Executive for these graduates; the contingency plans that are in place to meet any potential shortage of intern places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10286/13]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 to 628, inclusive, 685, 716 and 736 together.

The issue of an adequate number of intern places in the Irish medical system is a priority for my Department and for the HSE. The intern year is an integral part of medical training and a medical practitioner cannot be fully accredited without it. Under the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 it is a matter for the HSE to assess, on an annual basis, the number of intern training posts required by the health service.

There were 572 intern posts available in Ireland for the July 2012 intake, an increase of almost 70 posts since 2007. All 2012 EU graduates from Irish medical schools who sought an intern post here that year and met the HSE eligibility criteria were successful in securing a post. Indeed, to date there have been sufficient posts for all EU graduates from Irish medical schools and a number of additional posts for some non-EU applicants.

My Department is in regular contact with the HSE in relation to the issue of intern places with the aim, in so far as is possible, of providing a sufficient number of intern places for Irish/EU graduates from Irish medical schools. It should be noted that under EU law intern posts must be open to graduates from other EU countries and the HSE has no control over the numbers applying.

The Higher Education Authority has indicated that the number of medical graduates this year has not yet been finalised. However, the application process for internships commencing in July 2013 closed in November last. A total of 960 eligible applications were received, 652 from EEA applicants and 308 from non-EEA applicants. There is no separate figure available for Irish applicants. The final numbers that will proceed to the first round match have not yet been determined as the overseas candidates must pass the entrance test; meet the HSE English language requirements; provide a Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate; and pass their final year medical exams. Candidates applying from within Ireland must provide a BLS certificate and pass their final year medical exams.

The HSE will have approximately 80 additional posts available for interns commencing their training in July 2013. In total there will be in the region of 650 places available for 2013 and the HSE consider that there will be sufficient capacity and funding to ensure that every EU graduate of the six Irish medical schools can access an internship this year.

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