andDr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Health the date on which he approved of a new salary scale for the psychiatric service designed to encourage the recruitment of badly needed additional high quality medical personnel; the Health Boards, if any, which have already accepted and implemented the scale; in the case of other Boards, the reasons for the delay; and when it is intended to have the scale implemented by all Boards.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Psychiatric Service Salary Scale.
7.
Dr. Browne
On 7th September, 1971, my Department put to the chief executive officers of health boards for their consideration revised conditions of service, including revised remuneration, for psychiatrists employed by the health boards. At a subsequent meeting with officers of my Department the chief executive officers indicated their agreement in principle with the revised conditions. The revised salaries are conditional on the application of new duties which involve some administrative changes and this may have caused some delay in the implementation of the new agreements. I should point out that the revised salaries and conditions of service were earlier agreed with the medical staff representatives.
I understand that the new salaries have already been introduced in two of the health board areas and will be applied in the remaining six areas at an early date.