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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Jul 1966

Vol. 223 No. 13

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supervision of Boarded-out Children.

32.

asked the Minister for Health whether his Department received a deputation of public health nurses in August, 1965, who expressed the opinion that it was undesirable to appoint special officers to deal with fostered and boarded-out children but that these children should be dealt with as part of the existing mother and child services, suitably extended; whether his Department assured this deputation that their views had been accepted; and, if so, if he will state the reason why this policy has now been changed and local health authorities are appointing special children's officers to deal with these children.

Mr. O'Malley

I presume that the Deputy's question relates to a meeting held on 29th July, 1965, between officers of my Department and representatives of the Irish Nurses' Organisation. If so, the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. However, the deputation were not given the assurance referred to but were informed that their views would be considered sympathetically in conjunction with an examination of the arrangements for the supervision of boarded-out children and children at nurse being made in my Department. This examination has not yet been completed. No additional appointments as children's officer have been made by health authorities since July, 1965.

Is there any change in policy?

Mr. O'Malley

Not really. As the Deputy will appreciate, the whole position is being examined at the moment and the proposition put forward by the Irish Nurses' Organisation at their meeting has a great deal of merit in it.

Does the Minister agree that appointing a special officer or nurse to deal with boarded-out children would have the effect of distinguishing these children from ordinary children? Further, does he not agree it is in the interests of these children that they should be taken care of through the medium of the ordinary public health services in the county in which they reside?

Mr. O'Malley

I endorse the Deputy's charitable view and it will have my wholehearted support. There is one proviso, however, which I am sure the Deputy will appreciate; without going into details, in certain instances complexities arise which necessitate a departure and in which a departure from this possible new global arrangement might be called for, but, otherwise, I accept the Deputy's point of view.

Are nurses who are married precluded from holding these posts?

Mr. O'Malley

Not to my knowledge. There are married nurses in the service. The only restriction I know of is that we cannot make them permanent.

Cork Health Authority advertised a post recently and married nurses were precluded from applying.

Surely that is outside the scope of the question?

Would the Minister look into it?

Mr. O'Malley

I think in that case the reference was to a pensionable permanent position.

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