1600. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the status of the appointment of two consultant emergency positions recommended by the HIQA report of acute hospital activity at UHW in 2022; the reason for the ongoing delay to progress these positions; the reason note of these two positions approval cannot be found in the terms of the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee; if he is aware of the continuing lack of WTE emergency consultants at UHW being presently six WTEs as opposed to the staffing levels at all other model 4 hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33918/24]

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.