Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1607. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the reduction of intern positions for newly qualified doctors and maintain the 2020 number of intern positions to retain non-EU newly qualified doctors in addition to managing the waiting lists in hospitals which have grown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14829/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Over the past number of weeks, my Department and the HSE have been reviewing the option to increase the number of medical intern places for July 2021. 

I have announced an increase of 120 medical intern posts for July 2021. The increase in the number of intern places will be supported with accompanying increases in postgraduate training places, to ensure these doctors can avail of the next step in the training pathway following completion of an internship.

Over the next number of months, the HSE will be undertaking a formal review of the number of intern posts and postgraduate training positions to ensure the number of intern places are in line with future medical workforce planning requirements of the health service.  As part of this review the clinical sites where additional intern posts are most needed will be considered to ensure that the current configuration provides the most efficient and educationally appropriate model.