asked the Minister for Health the cause of the delay in filling the vacancy for dispensary doctor at Tarbert, County Kerry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Dispensary Doctors.
5.
At the request of the health authority, arrangements for the filling of the permanent post of district medical officer at Tarbert, County Kerry, which became vacant in August, 1961, were deferred. In October, 1962 the health authority submitted to my Department proposals for the reorganisation of the local dispensary areas which would involve abolition of the Tarbert dispensary district. These proposals were not considered feasible and, accordingly, the filling of the Tarbert vacancy was referred to the Local Appointments Commission which, it is expected, will shortly recommend a candidate for appointment to the post.
6.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the dispensary doctor for the Brosna Dispensary District, County Kerry resides outside the county; and, if so, what steps, if any, he intends to take to ensure that this doctor should reside within the district, with a view to eliminating the present difficulty and inconvenience to patients in the district.
I presume that the Deputy's question refers to the No. 1 Area of Brosna dispensary district, County Kerry. I am aware that the district medical officer for this area had been residing outside the area, i.e. at Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, since his appointment in 1945. Abbeyfeale is within a mile of the boundary of the area.
As a result of a question put down by the Deputy in 1949, the matter was taken up with the Health Authority. The information furnished by the Health Authority showed that no suitable residence was available within the dispensary district and that the Health Authority was satisfied that the service provided for the district by the district medical officer was satisfactory notwithstanding that he resided in Abbeyfeale. From time to time efforts were made by the Health Authority to obtain a suitable residence within the dispensary district but these efforts proved unsuccessful.
I might mention that the permanent post is now vacant and that steps are being taken by the Local Appointments Commissioners to fill it. When the new appointment is being made, I will examine the question of the proposed place of residence of the new appointee.