Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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450. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland has reportedly the second lowest number of respiratory consultants in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36158/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 38.71 whole time equivalent respiratory and general physician consultants employed in the public health services.

The National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) section within the HSE's National HR Directorate has three key functions relating to consultant numbers, Medical Education and Training, Medical Workforce Planning and the consultant post approval process. The NDTP has carried out research that infers there is a short fall of respiratory consultants in Ireland. Work is ongoing in NDTP to develop evidence informed workforce plans across all medical specialties, including respiratory. When completed, the plans will be used to inform workforce related decision making including the most appropriate number of postgraduate training places and consultant appointments. A key objective is to ensure that the correct number of doctors are training or trained in each specialty to meet both the current and future needs of the population with the correct balance between generalist and specialist doctors.

In line with the Department's Statement of Strategy 2015– 2017 the Department is working with the Health Service Executive to implement an approach to workforce planning and development with the objectives of recruiting and retaining the right mix of staff. This National Integrated Strategic Framework for Health Workforce Planning is intended to reshape Ireland’s future health workforce planning to support and enable the productivity of the existing workforce, the recruitment and retention of a highly valued workforce, and the expansion of the size, skills, competences and behaviours of the future workforce to meet current and emerging demands. In June 2016, the Department of Health convened a cross-sectoral Steering Group, including NDTP, to begin the work on developing recommendations for the establishment of governance systems and a framework for integrated health workforce planning in Ireland. It is expected that a report and a high level implementation plan will be submitted to the Minister in early 2017.