Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) relating to the plan to cut six of 30 newly qualified doctors at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16100/21]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Health if it is planned to avail of the ability of newly qualified doctors by offering all graduating doctors in 2021 positions under the HSE as interns, thus retaining this valuable resource here, particularly in view of the high cost to the State of educating doctors and given the shortage of trained doctors here and the need in recent years to recruit many doctors from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16156/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 211 together.

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.

The six Intern Training Networks, that organise and oversee intern training in Ireland, are responsible for the allocation of intern posts within their particular networks. The networks have now been informed of the additional intern posts for July 2021 and will allocate the additional posts appropriately.