Some temporary agency doctors are earning over a €100,000 more than their equivalents employed directly by the HSE, according to figures revealed tonight.

The revelations come amid difficulties in hospitals as a number of agency doctors have failed to attend work after their pay was cut under a new contract negotiated between the HSE and recruitment agencies in a bid to save money.

Under the old contract which expired on 31 August, a HSE directly employed Type A consultant would earn €165,000 compared to €269,249 for an agency consultant - over €104,000 more than the staff employee.

However, under the new contract which came into effect on 1 September, the locum consultant's pay falls to €256,726 - reducing the differential to €91,726.

A staff HSE registrar currently earns €70,538.

Under the old contract, the agency equivalent took home up to €172,455 - almost €102,000 a year more than the staff doctor.

However, under the new contract, that agency registrar's annual salary falls to €141,930 - reducing the differential to a still significant €71,391.

A HSE directly employed Senior House Officer would earn €59,700.

Before the new contract, an agency SHO would earn up to €138,214 depending on the discipline - a differential of up to €78,500 more than the staff doctor.

However, under the new contract the agency SHO will only earn €106,552, bringing the differential down to €46,852.

All these calculations are based on a doctor working 48 hours per week, with 9 hours overtime and certain allowances. Agency staff must also fund their own pensions.

HSE says hospitals functioning despite doctor pay dispute

The HSE has said that all hospitals are continuing to function despite the absence of some agency doctors who have failed to come to work in a dispute over pay.

However, the HSE has acknowledged that the situation remains "challenging".

Since Monday a number of doctors recruited through agencies have failed to attend for work, because a new contract negotiated between the HSE and recruitment agencies has seen them experience cuts in pay.

However, a HSE spokesperson said that the Hospital Groups are reporting full cover across all sites, with "minimal" impact to service delivery overall.

At one point there were fears that up to 150 doctors might withdraw their services - but up to now fewer than 20 have been missing from their normal duties.

It's understood that hospitals are trying to address the staffing shortfall by recruiting from other agencies, or by redeploying doctors from other hospital areas.

The worst hit hospitals up to now have been Navan, Portlaoise and Tallaght.

The Irish Association of Emergency Medicine had warned on Tuesday that patients would face longer waiting times to see doctors due to the pay dispute.

The dispute centres on a new contract negotiated between the HSE and agencies who supply temporary or locum doctors.

Under the contract, which commenced on 1 September, the average hourly rate of pay for agency doctors has fallen from €40 to €34 - compared to €27 for directly employed doctors.