Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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639. To ask the Minister for Health the number of non-consultant hospital doctors who were employed in HSE-run hospitals in December 2022; the corresponding figure for December 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4110/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The number of non-consultant hospital doctors employed in the health services at the end of December 2022 was 8,014 (whole time equivalents), compared with 6,795 at the end of 2019. 

There has been significant and ongoing growth in NCHD numbers, in order to support service delivery and reduce average NCHD working hours. Over the past 5 years  the number of NCHDs has increased from 5,962 to 8,014 - an increase of 2,052.

The Government is committed to improving the working conditions for NCHD's and making posts in Ireland more attractive for them and ensuring a better work/life balance. We are also committed to addressing the imbalance in training opportunities, growing the number of training posts and giving all NCHDs training opportunities. I established a National Taskforce to focus on the NCHD workforce in September 2022. This Taskforce is focused on putting in place sustainable workforce planning strategies and policies to address and to improve the NCHDs working experience and to support their retention within the Irish health system.