Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to fast-track the recruitment process for medical professionals throughout the health service; his views on the slow recruitment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23670/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is an operational matter across a range of medical grades, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

It is accepted and I would share the view that the duration of the process for filling consultant posts was too long and needed to be addressed. The HSE has been progressing implementation of the recommendations of the 2017 Keane report “Towards successful consultant recruitment, appointment and retention”. These recommendations cover all of the key steps in the process from approval of the post to supporting retention following appointment.

The HSE is also conscious of the need, as highlighted by the former President of the High Court, to ensure that consultant and NCHD posts are filled by properly qualified medical staff to ensure the safe provision of services and is focused on ensuring that the recruitment processes are sufficiently robust to do so.