Hospital Waiting Lists
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-09
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Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (FG), Dún Laoghaire

Yes, I am a firm supporter of the public system. There is no question about that. Some 71% of our consultants in CHI are on the public-only consultant contract. However, there is also a contractual requirement to continue to provide private space for those old, type B contract holders. It is anticipated that fewer than half of the eight planned consultancy rooms will have any private clinics. The rest of the rooms are dedicated for public clinics. More important, they will be private clinics winding down over time and that will all move to public because only be public consultants will be hired in. We are still committed to the rule of law and to upholding contracts. If I say contracts have to be upheld, I have to uphold them on the other side and we have to make that space, as the Deputy is aware. We have a very strong commitment to public service. I do not believe there is space for private work in the same way. I am in agreement with the Deputy, but there are still contract holders who have a contractual entitlement to a certain number of private rooms. I see in the new hospital that will be wound down and down, as we get from 71% to 80% and 85%. That will happen over time.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-09