I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time. The main purpose of it is to amend the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926, so as to exclude from its operation the posts of nurses and midwives under local authorities. Since the Local Appointments Commissioners were established they have recommended 1,782 nurses, including 398 midwives, for appointment, a number which is equal to one-half of all the statutory recommendations made. Last year the number recommended for these offices was 138, of which 99 were recommendations of hospital nurses, four of public health nurses, 11 of matrons and head nurses and 24 of midwives.
In the last two years there has been a falling off in the numbers of applicants for permanent nursing posts under local authorities. Some nurses seem to prefer temporary appointments under public authorities or private practice, as the remuneration for such employment is generally higher than that offered for permanent posts. In some institutions, such as the Dublin Fever Hospital, which are training centres for fever nursing, it is understood that it would be easier to recruit the permanent nursing staff from nurses with general medical and surgical training who have completed their period of fever training in the institutions than by reference to the Local Appointments Commissioners. In present conditions and with the prospect of the demand for nursing services becoming greater it will facilitate local bodies if they are able to offer nurses immediate employment in permanent posts. There will still be cases in which reference to the Local Appointments Commissioners would be advisable. This is particularly so in regard to higher nursing posts such as matron and sister tutor, in respect of which special qualifications and experience are necessary. It will be open to the Minister after the passing of this Bill to make a declaration applying the Act of 1926 to such posts. It is desirable that these declarations should be reviewed from time to time and if necessary the Minister should be able to revoke any declaration made. For this purpose Section 3 has been included in the Bill.
A further amendment relates to the maximum period for which a person temporarily appointed under Section 5 of the Act of 1926 can hold office. This was fixed for six months. It has been found in practice that appointments cannot always be made within that period, sometimes owing to delay in making the application, sometimes owing to difficulty in getting a person with the requisite qualifications or other reasons. When the permanent appointment is not made within the time fixed there is no other course open but to continue a temporary arrangement. The removal of the limit will not lead to the undue prolongation of temporary appointments. The power given by Section 6 of the Act to the Minister to move on behalf of the local authority is sufficient to prevent permanent appointments being indefinitely held up.