asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware of the fact that the salaries of each of the three Medical Officers in the Clonakilty Rural District have been recently increased by approximately £40 per annum; whether such increase has the sanction of the Local Government Department; and whether, if the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, in view of the economic condition of the Saorstát, and the policy of retrenchment advocated by the Government, the Minister considers it desirable that local authorities should be permitted to grant such increases when the general tendency at the moment is to effect economies in all branches of the public service.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CLONAKILTY DOCTORS' SALARIES.
The Board of Guardians of Clonakilty Union after due notice to each member adopted a proposal to grant a scale salary of £250 a year by annual increments of £10 a year to a maximum of £350 a year to each of their three Dispensary Medical Officers, and after careful consideration a scale salary for the officers in question of £200 a year by annual increments of £10 to £300 a year was sanctioned.
Every proposal of this nature is carefully investigated before a decision is given. It was found that the existing scale salaries of the Dispensary Medical Officers in Clonakilty Union were not adequate to the responsible nature of the duties, and the area, population, and character of the districts of which they had charge.
While the economic condition of the Saorstát and the policy of retrenchment advocated by the Government are of paramount importance, the health of the community must be safeguarded. To ensure this it is essential that proper provision is made for the competent discharge of the duties of Dispensary Medical Officers.