asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether the Civil Service Compensation Board has given permission to two attendants in Dundrum Asylum to retire with compensation on account of the excessive number of hours they were compelled to work and whether he proposes to take action now with a view of reducing the hours of work in that institution in accordance with the declared policy of the Government in regard to working hours in non-Government employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dundrum Asylum Working Hours.
The Civil Service (Compensation) Board decided that two transferred attendants at Dundrum Asylum were entitled to retire under Section 14 of the Civil Service (Transferred Officers) Compensation Act, 1929. I am not aware that the board held that the hours of duty of attendants in the asylum are excessive. The existing arrangements in Dundrum provide for two whole days off duty in every six days and, in addition, for occasional leave and annual leave. The proportion of attendants to patients is much higher than in any public institution for mental cases in this country. The scheme regulating hours of duty, which was brought into operation 15 years ago, is a considerable improvement on the old arrangements and I do not see, having regard to the circumstances, that it is contrary to the policy of the Government.