Inherent in the Governments Cardiovascular Strategy "Building Healthier Hearts", published July 1999, was a commitment to increase consultant cardiologist numbers to a level in line with accepted European standards. At present there are eleven cardiologists for every million people in the Republic of Ireland. In Europe the average number is 35 per million. In many states the number approaches 50 per million.

Since the publication of the CV Strategy, a joint working group was appointed by the Minister for Health to advise on the consultant manpower necessary to implement the strategy. This group produced an interim report in May 2001 that recommended a minimum of 24 additional consultant posts be created in 2002. This report was accepted and recommendations agreed with by the Minister of Health. To date 17 additional posts have been or are in the process of being filled.

The present position of eleven cardiologists per million of population continues to fall far behind all other European countries.