Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

614. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 627 of 1 December 2020, the status of developments regarding the creation of consultant-level roles in public health medicine; when it will be possible for public health doctors to apply to become consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2699/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I, my Department and the HSE are committed to the early introduction of a new framework for public healthcare. This will involve the establishment of a consultant-led public health model as proposed in the Crowe Horwath report.

Establishing the Public Health Consultant grade in 2021 is a key priority. My Department is working intensively with the HSE on finalisation of the future model of public health and, following on from the submission of the Business case, with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to consultant status for those taking up leadership roles within it as provided for in Crowe Horwath.

Our public health specialists have been to the forefront of our response to the pandemic in Ireland. They have made an enormous contribution to the protection of everybody living in Ireland. I want to work with our public health specialists to make sure we have the best public health structure possible and hope that the issue can be resolved through engagement with the IMO.