The Health Minister said 12% of public-only consultants currently include Saturdays as part of their work practice plans.

In a written Dáil reply, the Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD, has stated that during 2024 and 2025, the Central Bank incurred costs in relation to three important IT projects, which increased the annual spend on consultants to €13.5 million in 2024 and €15.9 million in 2025.

One in every four consultants working across the public health service is on the new contract