Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
570. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has issued any formal reporting requirements, policy directions, or data specifications to the HSE in relation to monitoring consultant working patterns under the Public Only Consultant Contract since March 2023, and to provide the date and title of each such direction. [15905/26]
View answerI thank the Deputy for the Question.
The Public Only Consultant Contract (POCC) makes provision for consultants to work 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm on Saturdays as part of their core clinical hours. Ahead of the first ministerial conference with all six health regions in September 2025, all sites were required to upload their consultants’ work plans to the Doctors Integrated Management eSystem (DIME) to demonstrate how many were working extended hours in the evenings and weekends. Further, each clinical site is required to outline the nature of the work carried out during these extended hours, such as triage, ward rounds, out patient clinics and theatre hours to name a few.
Due to a number of mitigating factors, we have yet to achieve 100% compliance with this directive but significant progress has been made since September. Consultant workplans remain under review to maximise the benefits of the contract as part of the extended day framework. This framework will enable the Regions to develop extended day plans and rostering of required staff to support and enhance extended services for patients.
I trust this information will be of use to the Deputy.
