Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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972. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to cut the 300 additional medical intern posts which were created in April 2020 as a result of the pandemic; the consideration that has been given to the impact of such a cut on the health service and on medical graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13479/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In April 2020, due to the evolving COVID-19 situation the Department of Health supported the HSE request to commence the 2020 Medical Intern intake earlier than usual and to offer an Intern place to all eligible applicants for the 2020 Medical Intern year.

This increase was an emergency measure in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not planned, and it was never intended, that this increase would be sustained on an annual basis.

Following the application process 992 interns commenced employment with the HSE on 25th of May 2020 which was 80% of the total interns eligible for places in 2020, 20% of candidates offered an intern post did not take up the offer.

The number of medical internship posts available for July 2021 has reverted, as planned to 734, which is the agreed annual intake in line with current workforce planning projections. The number of intern places is in line with the numbers of training posts available in specialist training programmes, the next step in the training pathway following completion of an internship.

As the HSE are coming out of the third wave of COVID-19 and facing increased waiting lists and other challenges the focus is on ensuring they have senior doctors to deal with the impact of COVID. As part of the planned investment by the HSE in additional staffing, services and infrastructure the HSE will be investing in additional medical staffing in 2021. The HSE has:

- Increased the number of approved postgraduate training places by 106 places for July 2021;

- Introduced up to 40 new COVID Era Senior Fellowship posts for July 2021;

- Increase of 91 approved consultant posts since August 2020.Further increases are planned as part of the HSE National Service Plan.

These additional consultants and other senior decision makers will support the delivery of shorter waiting times, the reduction of hospital admissions, improved patient flow, and earlier discharge of patients to the community.

The HSE intend to review the number of intern posts in a planned and targeted manner for July 2022 to ensure any increases in intern posts aligns with projected workforce planning and postgraduate training positions. The outcome of this review with the recommended number of intern places for July 2022 will be presented to the Department of Health, later this year.

The Department of Health supports this review and welcomes it as timely in line with health reforms due to COVID-19 and planned Sláintecare reforms.