The Department of Health estimated that salary levels for new hospital consultants would be about €250,000 per year, an internal Department of Health briefing document, which was released yesterday, indicated.
The document, drawn up for Department of Health secretary general Michael Scanlan in October 2005, suggested that the salary cost of appointing 100 additional consultants would be €25 million per year.
The document was one of a number of internal papers released to the Labour Party on foot of a Freedom of Information request.
Health service management has recently offered consultants salaries of up to €205,000 per year for working a revised contract which would see new restrictions on private practice.
Sources close to Minister for Health Mary Harney said last night that while the document spoke of "salaries", its authors probably meant it to take account of the total costs including on-call allowances and possible bonuses. They said the figure could also have included an estimate for pension costs.
The dispute between hospital consultants and the Government over the introduction of a revised contract will intensify today with the commencement of industrial action by the largest body representing specialist doctors, the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA).
As part of the action, consultants will refuse to take part in hospital and national committees, and will no longer make themselves available for any meetings with Health Service Executive (HSE) senior management. They will also refuse to do work which would normally be carried out by locums except in emergencies. Their action is in response to a decision by Ms Harney and the HSE to advertise for 68 new consultant posts on terms which have not been agreed.
The consultants will also boycott the filling of these posts and will not take part in any process to shortlist or interview potential candidates for these positions.
In a statement issued after a meeting of its national council on Saturday, the IHCA said: "It is disappointing to note that the HSE has not shown any wish to engage in meaningful negotiations."
No new talks between the parties are anticipated in advance of the formation of the new government.
Ms Harney said at the weekend she hoped the consultants would review their decision on industrial action. The HSE has claimed the action would affect patients. A spokesman said that by their very central role, any action undertaken by consultants could have an impact on patients in the short, medium or long term.
The HSE has specifically pointed to the refusal of consultants to carry out work normally undertaken by locums. The IHCA has denied that patient care would be affected by the action.
The action is similar to that undertaken by the IHCA as part of a row with the Government over insurance cover for doctors a number of years ago.
