Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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711. To ask the Minister for Health the number of consultant cardiothoracic surgeons employed in the health service; the number required to meet recommendations for the size of the population and consequent shortfall; and his strategy for achieving the number. [34860/20]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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712. To ask the Minister for Health the number of oral and maxillofacial surgeons employed in the health service; the number required to meet recommendations for the size of the population and consequent shortfall; and his strategy for achieving the number. [34861/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 711 and 712 together.

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, in relation to the details requested.

The overall number of consultants employed in the public health service has been increasing year on year. It increased by 256 to 3,446 (wte's) in the 12 months to the end of September 2020 and has increased by nearly 740 since the end of September 2015. A continuation of this policy was provided for in the Memorandum approved by Government concerning the introduction of the Sláintecare Consultant Contract.

I am aware from the Report prepared by NDTP, HSE, 'Demand for Medical Consultants and Specialists to 2028'that the current numbers employed in the specialties raised by the Deputy are below the ratios per head of population in demand estimates in that report, based on ratios originally proposed by Hanly and now taking account of the views of NDTP stakeholders. This is particularly so in the case of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Addressing this will require a number of interventions, including consideration of additional training posts. Future retention will also be important and it is hoped that the implementation of Sláintecare, the expansion of capacity and the roll out of the Sláintecare Consultant Contract will support this.