45 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 8 February 2001, any of the additional accident and emergency consultants for casualty hospitals have been offered employment by the health boards; and the number who are likely to take up duty by 31 December 2001 when the contracts will expire. [9890/01]

My Department is advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards that to date 11 candidates have been appointed, have been offered, or are being offered, temporary contracts on foot of the decision to recruit additional consultants in accident and emergency medicine in acute general hospitals.