Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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595. To ask the Minister for Health the progress he is making in ensuring hospitals are complying with the working time directive for junior doctors; the number of hospitals he has sanctioned for breaching the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6206/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department continues to support the development and implementation of measures by the HSE to progress the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) compliance. There have been a number of high level actions initiated by the HSE, including a much greater focus at hospital level on EWTD compliance and recruitment of a number of additional NCHDs and consultants. Changes also include revised rostering arrangements with ongoing moves to reform and reconfigure non-compliant rotas, and greater use of off-site on-call.

As a result of the focus on achieving compliance, the HSE has made significant progress in implementing the EWTD, particularly in the last two years. It is now close to full compliance with most of the provisions of the Directive, including daily, weekly and fortnightly rest; and daily breaks. Compliance with the 48 hour week, which now stands at 82%, has improved significantly in the past number of years - up significantly from the 30% level of compliance when the Government took office. Compliance with the maximum 24 hour shift has also increased with an average of 96% compliance. The HSE has achieved 97% compliance with the 11 hour daily rest requirement and 99% compliance with weekly/fortnightly rest break requirement.

I have asked the HSE to reply on the matter of the number of hospitals that have been sanctioned for non-compliance with the EWTD. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.