asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware of the hardships imposed upon mental hospital attendants and nurses who have been obliged through accident, illness or other cause, to resign from the service since the passage of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945, but who could not avail themselves of its pension provisions owing to the non-operation of Part VIII of the Act; if he will now state when he proposes to operate this Part of the Act; and if he will consider the possibility of applying the provisions of Part VIII of the Act to persons who were forced to leave the service since the Act was passed by the Oireachtas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Attendants and Nurses.
Part VIII of the Mental Treatment Act is an integral part of the Act and the provisions of that part cannot be applied until the whole Act is brought into operation. Before that is done extensive regulations governing the exercise of the powers, duties and functions of mental hospital authorities must be made. The preparation of these regulations is being pressed forward with all possible expedition.