asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) whether he received in June, 1951, a letter from the Irish Local Government Officials' Union expressing disappointment at the delay in dealing with the question of a revision of the salaries of certain mental hospital officers and requesting that he meet representatives of the union; (b) whether no meeting with representatives of the union took place until 22nd October, 1953; (c) if, on that occasion, he gave an undertaking to the union representatives that he would give his decision on proposals submitted by managers of mental hospitals in the matter of salaries revision within four weeks from that date; (d) whether he has received further repeated representations from the union; and, if so, (e) whether he will explain the cause of the delay and state when he proposes to bring the matter to finality.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Employees' Salaries.
The question of revising the salaries of certain mental hospital officers was discussed when a deputation from the Irish Local Government Officials' Union was received by my predecessor on the 23rd March, 1950. It was indicated to the union that, in general, a revision of salary scales as proposed by the union did not appear to be warranted. In June, 1951, a letter on the lines indicated in (a) of the Deputy's question was received from the union who were informed that, in general, I was satisfied that the present rates of salary for the officers concerned were not unreasonable, having regard to the general standards of remuneration prevailing in the local authority service and it was explained to them that no useful purpose would be served by my receiving a deputation as proposed.
Arising out of proposals made by the managers for mental hospital authorities, consideration has been given to the question of the rearrangement of duties for certain clerical and stores staffs in district mental hospitals and at the same time for a revision of the remuneration of the officers concerned. In May and July, 1953, specific proposals in the matter of remuneration were sent to me for consideration by the mental hospital managers and about the same time the managers indicated broadly their views in regard to the revision of duties. My views in relation to both of these matters were conveyed to the managers and the managers are to have discussions with the officers' union. I understand that the managers found difficulty in arranging discussions during the month of March by reason of pressure of other work, but that a meeting will probably take place this month.
The Irish Local Government Officials' Union was received by me on the 22nd October, 1953. I explained to them that I was at that time in communication with the managers and that I would endeavour to expedite their handling of the matters at issue. In further correspondence, I informed the union on the 22nd March, 1954, that, pending consideration of these matters by the managers, I thought it desirable to defer a decision on the question of receiving another deputation.
asked the Minister for Health if he will recommend to all mental hospital authorities that the interim bonus recommended by him in respect of mental hospital nurses on the 17th December, 1952, be applied to all senior nursing grades (head nurses and deputy head nurses) in the service in respect of the period 1st April, 1952, to 1st April, 1953.
The purpose of the interim bonus referred to was to obviate hardship amongst lower salary groups pending a determination of the classes or grades to which increases might be granted and the amount of any general increase in remuneration by way of bonus. Having regard to the remuneration of senior nursing officers in the mental hospital service and to their position in relation to other comparably paid staffs in the local authority service generally, I would not feel justified in making a special recommendation on the lines indicated in the question. All these officers benefited by the increased bonus award granted as from the 1st April, 1953, to officers of the local authority service.