asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state the quantity of petrol made available each month during 1941 to dispensary doctors in (a) dispensary districts which are wholly urban; (b) dispensary districts which are wholly rural, and (c) dispensary districts which are partly urban and partly rural.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Doctors' Petrol Allowances.
Dispensary doctors receive allowances of petrol on the same basis as all other medical doctors and separate records of the issues of petrol to different classes of medical doctors are not kept.
asked the Minister for Supplies whether he has discussed with the Irish Medical Association the allocation of the petrol ration amongst dispensary doctors; whether any proposals for securing an adequate supply of petrol for dispensary doctors covering large districts have been worked out; and, if so, whether he is now in a position to state if, during the winter months especially, an adequate allowance of petrol will be made available to enable dispensary doctors covering wide areas to discharge their duties to the sick poor in an efficient manner.
I have had correspondence with the Irish Medical Union (now the Irish Medical Association) and have seen representatives of that body in connection with the allowances of petrol for dispensary doctors. I made it clear that I am not in a position to increase the allowances to dispensary doctors as a class, but that, subject to the position prevailing from time to time regarding petrol supplies, I am prepared to consider the possibility of making some concession for a limited number of dispensary doctors experiencing particular hardship on the present ration, provided the association accept responsibility for the discrimination involved and indicate the doctors who should receive special treatment. Unless and until the association submit an acceptable scheme on these lines, I cannot arrange to depart from the existing system under which all doctors are treated as a class.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that, in the not unlikely event of a widespread epidemic of infectious disease, an increased petrol allowance will be granted to dispensary doctors generally?
The allowance of petrol will be varied according to circumstances.