asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware of the conditions under which Mrs. McCarthy, gate lodgekeeper at the county hospital, Croom, County Limerick, is employed, and the nature of her work; whether he is aware that she is on duty for seven days of the week from 6.30 a.m. until 10 o'clock, and often until 11 o'clock at night; whether he is also aware that during the night she is required to open the lodge gate at any hour to admit the entry of patients; and whether he is aware that for this work, which has seriously impaired her health, she is paid 15/- a week; whether it is a fact that he has refused to sanction the proposal of the Limerick County Board of Health to appoint an assistant to Mrs. McCarthy and, whether he has taken into account that the board of health desire to relieve this lady of some of the onerous duties which have been imposed upon her for a considerable time; and, if so, whether he is prepared to reconsider his decision in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick County Hospital.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.
The duties of the gate lodgekeeper are to open and close the gate when necessary and keep records of entries to and departure from the institution. She has in addition to salary free apartments and rations valued at £23 a year. The duties of the position are not onerous. There are no fixed hours of duty. A proposal of the board of health to appoint an assistant lodge gatekeeper was not approved as it was not considered that such an appointment was necessary. I see no reason for reviewing the case.