More than 400 consultants have signed new public contracts, according to new figures obtained by RTÉ News.
Of the 418 consultants who accepted new contracts, 293 are current consultants who have withdrawn from previous contracts and 125 are newly appointed consultants.
The new contract was launched by the government in March and is the only contract available to new consultants, offering a base salary of between €209,000 and €252,000.
All new consultants taking up positions in the Director of Health Service have new contracts, reports RTE.
The HSE says the number is increasing every week.
Every year, it recruits around 400-500 consultants for replacement and new positions.
Over 3,800 consultants work in the public system.
This year, the HSE launched an international marketing campaign to recruit consultants to work in Ireland under a new deal.
In June, it launched a special campaign in the UK and Australia, targeting mainly Irish doctors.
Earlier this year, a majority of members of the Irish Medical Organization voted in favor of a new deal, and a poll by the Irish Association of Hospital Consultants also showed strong opposition.
Under the new agreement, consultants will be able to be hired to work on Saturdays.
Consultants can work privately, but outside of a public hospital and on their own time.
The IMO took “a cautious welcome” to the news that 125 new consultants had been appointed under the terms of the contract for new consultants, reports RTE.
However, it warned that the number of new consultants needed by the Irish NHS was only a fraction.
Professor Matthew Sadlier, chair of the IMO’s Consultative Committee, said there are still more than 900 vacancies for consultants and, based on the current population, the service is short of 2,000 consultants.
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