asked the Minister for Health the number of applications from health boards to create new consultant posts; and the position on the matter.

The Deputy is presumably referring to applications under the new procedure for hospital authorities both in relation to the creation of new hospital consultant posts and the filling of vacancies that arise in existing posts which I introduced March last.

Since that date health boards have sought the creation of 35 new consultant posts. In each case the relevant health board has outlined the financial implications and in 15 of these cases the Department were satisfied that the posts could be funded by redeployment of existing resources. Eight of these proposals have been approved by Comhairle na nOspidéal leaving seven still to be considered by the comhairle. In seven of the submissions the Department were not so satisfied. The remaining 13 cases are still being examined in my Department.

I should explain that this examination of the financial implications is a part of the submission of proposals to Comhairle na nOspidéal, which has the statutory function to regulate the number and type of consultant appointments in public hospitals and was introduced because of the serious financial circumstances in which we found ourselves, the need to reassess our priorities and to redeploy our resources in the most effective manner possible.

Am I to take it that the health boards considered that 35 extra posts were necessary, that Comhairle na nOspidéal approved of eight and rejected seven and that the other 20 are with the Department awaiting sanction? Will the Minister tell the House if he will fund these posts if they are considered to be absolutely necessary by the health boards?

Of the 15 posts for which the Department have given a favourable response eight have been approved to date by the comhairle as follows: in the Southern Health Board area for Tralee Hospital, two orthopaedic surgeons, a paediatrician, an anaesthetist and a pathologist; in the Mid-Western Health Board region for Limerick Regional Hospital an anaesthetist; in the South-Eastern Health Board region for Kilcreene an orthopaedic surgeon and a paediatrician in Letterkenny. Those appointments have been approved by the comhairle. There are still seven with the comhairle for consideration.