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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Oct 1962

Vol. 197 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Financial Assistance for District Nursing Associations.

3.

asked the Minister for Health what financial assistance is available to district nursing associations; and if any revision in this assistance is contemplated in view of the fact that salaries and other costs have been increased.

The policy of successive Ministers for Health has been to encourage voluntary effort in the field of district nursing. For several years past local health authorities have had standing authority to pay annual subsidies to district nursing associations which provide appropriate services. These subsidies cover a substantial proportion of the associations' total annual expenditure.

On learning recently that nurses employed by such associations had received an increase in their remuneration, retrospective to the 1st January, 1962, I issued a circular letter requesting each health authority to review the financial position of each district nursing association in its area and— where circumstances so warranted— to make an immediate supplementary grant, retrospective to the 1st January, 1962, to enable the association to pay the increase in the nurse's salary. I also recommended health authorities to pay the annual subsidies at quarterly intervals so that the associations may be assured of stability in their finances.

I am happy to say that the response from health authorities has been satisfactory.

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