Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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764. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to make it more attractive for consultants to apply for new consultancy posts within the Saolta Hospital Group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1450/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Public Sector Pay Commission in its Report published on 4 September 2018 identified difficulties in attracting consultant applications for advertised posts at present and acknowledged that the pay rates for new entrants had been highlighted as a factor in this. It identified a number of other factors including geographic location and work/life balance. The Commission also recognised that implementation of the settlement of the 2008 Consultant Contract claim, while necessary of itself, would serve to highlight further the differential in pay between the pre-existing cadre of consultants and new entrants.

Given its analysis, the Pay Commission proposed that the Parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement jointly consider what further measures could be taken, over time, to address the pay differential between pre-existing consultants and new entrant consultants. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department have noted the Commission's views and consideration will need to be given to potential solutions which are in line with public sector pay policy and available budgets. This will be a significant challenge given the amounts involved.