Working as a Consultant Doctor in Ireland: All you need to know in 2025

Being a Consultant in Ireland

Considering a move to Ireland for your medical consultant career? As the only country in Europe where you can work as a doctor entirely in English, Ireland offers outstanding career opportunities and a unique quality of life. It has become a top destination for hospital specialists across Europe, offering a combination of competitive pay, high-quality medical facilities, and a strong focus on professional development.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know—from the structure of Ireland’s healthcare system and consultant job options to the specifics of the new public-only contract, salary expectations, and registration requirements.

Read on to learn why now is the perfect time to make your move to the Emerald Isle, and how CSE Connect can help you every step of the way.

An Overview of Ireland’s Healthcare System

Ireland offers a two-tier healthcare system, with both public and private sectors. The public system, managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE), provides universal access to public hospital services.

Here’s a quick overview:

• Public Care: All residents in Ireland can access secondary care (specialist or hospital treatment) in HSE-run public hospitals, which is generally free at the point of use.
• Primary Care: GP visits often involve out-of-pocket fees, unless you hold a medical card, which entitles you to free GP care (approximately 40% of the population qualifies).
• System Scope: As of 2022, Ireland had 86 hospitals, with about 78% being publicly run by the HSE. Around 65% of these are general acute hospitals.

As a consultant in the public system, you will be employed by the HSE or an HSE-funded hospital. The HSE is Ireland’s national health authority, equivalent to a national health service, and is responsible for delivering all public health and social care services.

Working as a Consultant: Public (HSE) vs. Private Sector

You have two main employment avenues as a consultant in Ireland:

• HSE (Public Hospital) Consultants: This is the most common path for consultant doctors in Ireland. These roles offer a structured salary scale, excellent pension benefits, and clear career progression. The new “public-only” contracts restrict working a mix with private institutions but offer better pay. You’ll be part of a diverse team and often have opportunities to engage in teaching and research with your assigned budget.
• Private Consultants: A smaller number of consultants work in private hospitals, clinics, or have their own private practice. This route offers more flexibility in generating income but also comes with business responsibilities like billing and potentially less job security. Many consultants who work privately also hold part-time public contracts to maintain access to public hospitals.

For EU doctors new to Ireland, starting with the HSE is often the best way to integrate into the healthcare landscape. It provides a stable, rewarding environment where you can focus on patient care without worrying about billing.

High Demand and Major Opportunities for Consultants in Ireland

Ireland is currently facing a significant shortage of consultant doctors, creating plenty of job opportunities for qualified specialists. The demand for your skills is undeniably high.

Consider these figures:

• Widespread Vacancies: In mid-2023, it was reported that around 800 hospital consultant posts were not filled on a permanent basis—that’s about one in every five consultant positions.
• Urgent Need: This figure includes hundreds of posts that are completely vacant and hundreds more covered by temporary or locum doctors. Some positions have remained unfilled for over two years.
• Ambitious Growth: To meet patient needs, the Irish government plans to hire approximately 300 new consultants per year, aiming to increase the total number of consultants from around 4,000 to 6,000 by 2030.

This recruitment gap presents a major opportunity for EU-trained (or recognised) specialists. Irish hospitals are actively seeking to fill these roles and welcome the expertise you can bring to the healthcare system. Whether you are a cardiologist, psychiatrist, radiologist, or surgeon, a spot is waiting for you.

Why Ireland Attracts Hospital Specialists

So, what makes Ireland such an attractive destination? Beyond the number of job openings:

• Competitive Pay and Benefits: Consultant salaries in Ireland are among the highest for public hospital doctors in Europe. The new contract offers a high base salary, with significant additional earnings for on-call duties, overtime, and allowances. The base salary starts at €235k up to €283k (August HSE pay scale). You also get a great pension plan and generous annual leave.
• High Job Responsibility and Impact: As a consultant, you are a senior clinical decision-maker. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, supervise junior doctors, and have significant autonomy in patient care. It’s a respected and professionally rewarding role where you can truly make a difference.
• Continuous Professional Development: The HSE provides funding and support for consultants to pursue continuous professional development, attend conferences, and engage in academic work.
• Excellent Work-Life Balance: While healthcare is always demanding, Ireland strives to provide a sustainable work environment. The standard full-time work week is now 37 hours. Supportive labour laws, paid leave, and a family-friendly culture make for a relaxed pace of life outside of work.
• Excellent Quality of Life: Outside the hospital, Ireland offers a high quality of life with its friendly communities, rich culture, and stunning landscapes. As an EU member, EU citizens can live and work freely without a visa, making the move smooth.

The New Public-Only Consultant Contract 2023

One of the most important developments in the Irish public health system is the “Public-Only” Consultant Contract 2023 (also known as the Sláintecare contract). If you are a new consultant joining the HSE, this will be the contract you are offered.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Exclusively Public Practice: Under this contract, you agree not to engage in private practice within public HSE facilities. This ensures your time is dedicated to public patients, helping to create a single-tier health service.
• Higher Base Salary: To attract top talent, the contract offers a significantly higher basic salary, ranging from €233,527 to €280,513 on a six-point scale. Your starting point depends on your experience.
• Modern Working Hours: The standard week is 37 hours, but it’s not a rigid 9-to-5. To improve patient access, you may be rostered for evening work (until 10 pm) or Saturday shifts (8 am-6 pm) on rotation, balanced with appropriate time off.
• Support and Flexibility: The contract includes protected time for medical education and research. It also supports flexible work patterns like job-sharing or compressed hours, which is excellent for work-life balance.

By March 2024, nearly half of all of Ireland’s consultants had signed on to this new contract, signaling strong approval from the medical community. It provides excellent pay, clear duties, and aligns with the future of Ireland’s healthcare system.

Requirements to Work as a Consultant in Ireland

Ready to take the next step? Here are the key requirements for any EU specialist looking to work as a consultant in Ireland.

1. Specialist Qualification & Training: You must have completed your specialist medical training in your field and be recognized as a specialist in your home country.
2. Irish Medical Council (IMC) Specialist Registration: This is the most critical requirement. You must be registered on the Specialist Division of the Irish Medical Council’s register. For EU/EEA-trained doctors, their qualifications are typically automatically recognized under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. This means they can register without a lengthy examination process.
3. English Language Proficiency: There is no formal English requirement needed. Your test is the interview. Obviously, a professional level of English is a must.
4. Right to Work: For EU/EEA citizens, there is no need of a visa or work permit. This makes the entire process much more straightforward.
5. Experience: While many newly qualified specialists are being hired due to high demand, most consultant posts officially look for a few years of experience at a senior registrar or consultant level (more than 3 years). A strong CV showcasing your clinical experience and any research or leadership roles will be a significant advantage.

Ready to start your registration process? The paperwork can be tricky, but you don’t have to do it alone. 

How CSE Connect Can Help Your Move to Ireland

Relocating to a new country is a big step, but CSE Connect is here to make your journey smooth and successful. As a leading healthcare recruitment agency in Ireland, we are dedicated to helping doctors like you find the right job and settle in.

Here’s how we support you:

• Job Search and Matching: We have a wide network of contacts in HSE hospitals across Ireland. We match your specialty, experience, and preferences with the best consultant vacancies—including unadvertised opportunities.
• Guidance Through the Hiring Process: We help you polish your CV and prepare for interviews (often held via video). Our team knows the HSE system inside and out.
• Relocation and Integration Support: We offer hands-on relocation assistance with everything from finding accommodation and schools to setting up a bank account and social security (PPS number). We also connect you with other overseas doctors to build your professional network from day one.
• Ongoing Support: Our relationship doesn’t end on your first day. We check in to ensure you are adjusting well and remain a resource for any career questions you may have in the future.

Conclusion: Your Future as a Consultant in the Emerald Isle Awaits

Ireland’s healthcare system is actively seeking skilled consultants and offers a rewarding career path in a welcoming, vibrant country. With a straightforward credentialing process for EU doctors, competitive salaries, and a fantastic quality of life, there has never been a better time to make the move.

If you are thinking about a consultant position in Ireland, take the first step today.