Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2026
543. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the options available to her should there be no meaningful increase in the number of public only consultant consultants working evening and Saturday shifts (details supplied); the steps she intends to take if the situation does not improve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54536/26]
View answerThe Government’s objective is clear: the Public Only Consultant Contract must mean more timely care, more senior decision makers on site, better access to services outside traditional hours, and fuller delivery for public patients. The Minister does not expect every consultant to work every Saturday, this is about evenly distributing our resources, increasing senior decision maker presence across the week and moving towards a full six-day service in our hospitals.
Last year an agreement was reached on a Framework for extending working hours for all staff with all trade unions, which paves the way for broader implementation of extended services. The six Regional Clinical Directors are due to meet with the Cabinet Committee on Health Today to inform them of their plans to improve evening and weekend rostering. Staff numbers within the HSE have grown by approximately 30% since the end of 2019. This investment shows the government is committed to putting the resources in place to facilitate extended hours across the health service.
Ahead of meet the Cabinet Committee meeting, The HSE Chief Clinical Officer has written to clinical directors requiring a review of all current rosters to ensure extended hours and Saturday working are scheduled and staffed in line with clinical service need. The HSE has governance and programme structures in place to strengthen oversight, reporting and accountability, and that work now needs to translate into more consistent extended-day and weekend rostering across the system.
