Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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397. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place with regard to shortage of medical intern places in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21394/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 it is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) to assess, on an annual basis, the number of intern training posts required by the health service. 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. There are 639 intern posts available for the July 2013 intake. In recent years all EEA graduates from Irish medical schools, who sought an intern post and who met the eligibility requirements, were accommodated. The HSE remain confident that this year will be no exception.