asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether he has received a copy of a resolution from the South Cork Board of Public Assistance, that a 96-hour fortnight be granted to the attendants and other employees of the board; and, if so, whether he will state the date on which he received it and whether he intends to accede to the request without further delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Assistance Board Employees.
The secretary of the South Cork Board of Public Assistance requested my approval on the 16th July last for the employment of additional staff to enable a 96-hour fortnight to be applied to attendants and other employees at the Cork County Home and Hospital.
I should like to draw the Deputy's attention to my reply to Deputy O'Leary's question on the 2nd instant regarding introduction of the 96-hour fortnight for domestic staffs generally in county and district hospitals and county homes. In my reply, I stated that I was personally in favour of a 96-hour fortnight and that I was anxious to see it introduced as soon as possible but that there were considerable difficulties, some of which I enumerated, in the way of its immediate application. I also stated that the matter was being examined and that, as far as I was concerned, there would be no undue delay in arriving at a decision. The Deputy will appreciate that a decision in relation to the employees of the South Cork Board of Public Assistance must await a general decision on this question.
Is the Minister aware that the question of living-in accommodation does not arise in the case of the South Cork Board of Assistance and that there should be no further delay in sanctioning this proposal?
I understand that is so, but, as I said in reply to the question, it would not be possible to make a decision in relation to a specific case which would obviously be binding on many other employees.
Is the Minister not aware that the nurses in this institution have been granted a 96-hour fortnight?
I am aware that nurses in most institutions have been given a 96-hour fortnight, but we are discussing the domestic staff at the moment.
Do you not think it is a reasonable application?