asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that Joseph Rudkins and Patrick Byrne, Senior, members of the nursing staff, Grangegorman Mental Hospital, applied for the special allowance granted to the holders of the R.M.P.A. Medal or the G.N.C. Certificate and were refused; that Patrick Byrne, Senior, is in receipt of an annual allowance of £20 in respect of duties as charge attendant, and Joseph Rudkins is in receipt of £10 per annum in respect of duties as deputy charge attendant; and whether, in view of the fact that both these persons are considered qualified to take special charge of patients, he will sanction payment to them of the special allowance granted to holders of the R.M.P.A. Medal or the G.N.C. Certificate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Special Allowance for Mental Hospital Attendants.
Under an order of the mental hospital authority of 18th January, 1923, a special allowance, contingent on the passing of prescribed examinations in mental nursing, is payable to attendants. The application referred to, which was transmitted to the Department for a ruling, being a matter which fell to be dealt with by the mental hospital authority within the terms of the above order, was referred back for determination by that authority which subsequently ruled that the attendants in question were not eligible for the increased remuneration.