asked the Minister for Health when his Department will sanction the proposal of the Dublin Health Authority to establish additional permanent positions of welfare inquiry officers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Welfare Inquiry Officers.
13.
This is a matter which concerns, also, the Minister for Social Welfare in view of the fact that the new grade of officer proposed would undertake duties at present performed by Assistance Officers under the Social Welfare Acts, in addition to the investigation of applications for services under the Health Acts normally carried out by Inquiry Officers specially recruited for that purpose.
The proposal referred to was put forward by the former Dublin Board of Assistance in June, 1960, and related only to the temporary staff employed in the functional area of that Board. As the Dublin Health Authority was set up in July, 1960, it was not considered feasible to proceed with the proposal as submitted which, in the altered circumstances, related only to part of the area and a proportion of the staff controlled by the new Authority. The Dublin Health Authority were accordingly requested in October, 1960, to submit comprehensive staffing proposals for their entire area, but up to the present they have not been in a position to do so.
My latest information is that a pilot scheme is at present proceeding in a particular district in the area of the Dublin Health Authority, and that it is desired to observe the operation of that scheme before formulating comprehensive proposals for the entire area.
Would the Minister endeavour to get the Dublin Health Authority to make its proposal, having regard to the importance of the service?
The Health Authority was asked to make its proposals but has not done so yet.
14.
asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the delay in his Department in sanctioning the proposal made by the Dublin Health Authority in December 1961 to grant increased salaries to temporary inquiry officers employed by the Authority; and when a decision in this matter may be expected.
I presume the Deputy has in mind a proposal which was submitted to my Department in December, 1960, for the grant of special increments to temporary Enquiry Officers recruited for the investigation of applications for services under the Health Acts. It is established practice that temporary officers employed in the local health services are paid a flat rate of salary corresponding to the minimum of the salary scale for the permanent post. This position has been made clear to the Dublin Health Authority. In course of a discussion in my Department in January last their representatives were informed, however, that any proposals that might be submitted for the revision of the existing salary of temporary Enquiry Officers under the eighth round of increases would be favourably considered. It is understood that the question of such revision is at present under consideration by the Dublin Health Authority and that their proposals in the matter will be submitted for my approval shortly.