Consultants highlighted significant challenges in 2024, such as fund transfer delays and inefficiencies caused by changes to financial mechanisms.
To address these issues and speed up the process, 2 application deadlines have been introduced:
- Monday 24 February 2025 (for March fund transfers)
- Monday 26 May 2025 (for June fund transfers)
The Public Only Consultant Contract (POCC) enables consultants to innovate in patient care.
The fund is available to support innovative research and innovation projects (a broad term that includes academic research and innovation projects). This may include other similar projects as specified by the employer from time to time.
Each consultant, upon application, may receive up to €8,000 per year from the innovation fund for this purpose.
The POCC 2023 also provides an additional €12,000 in funding, bringing the total amount claimable to a maximum of €20,000 per calendar year. This supports innovation by using the consultant's unspent CME.
Consultant Innovation Fund Guidance Document (PDF, 1.1 MB, 16 pages)
Consultant Innovation Fund Leaflet (PDF, 3.5 MB, 2 pages)
Consultant Innovation Fund Application Form
Transfer of Unallocated Continuing Medical Education (CME) Fund to Innovation Fund
Transfer of Unallocated Innovation Fund to Continuing Medical Education (CME) Fund
Pooling document (to be completed by consultants who wish to pool their individual Innovation Fund allocations to collectively support a shared project).