asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a number of medical laboratory technician students who have completed three-year courses at Kevin Street College of Technology, Dublin are being dismissed by the hospitals in which they are employed; and if he will take immediate steps to have the undertakings given to these young persons honoured by having their employment continued in the hospitals concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Laboratory Technicians.
10.
I am aware that a number of medical laboratory technician students who have recently completed their training course have ceased to be employed in student posts. No firm commitment to employment as medical laboratory technicians in the hospitals in which they train is given to such students. I understand that about 24 recently qualified medical laboratory technicians are experiencing difficulty in securing employment. Twelve posts have been recently advertised, or are about to be advertised, and I am exploring with the health boards and voluntary hospitals the possibility of other posts being filled.
Is the Minister aware that many of these persons embarked on this career as a result of an AnCO leaflet which indicated to them that when they were qualified, posts would be available in hospitals? Is it not a fact that students who have pursued diligently and assiduously one of these courses and have qualified are being dismissed in order to make way for other students coming out of the technical colleges and going through the course who have to be accommodated in hospitals for these courses?
There is a difficulty in all this, and not necessarily in respect of laboratory technicians, but fewer posts have become available in the last three years since the lifting of the ban on the employment of married women. While not the sole factor, that has been a factor. Another factor has been that for many of those who present themselves to the three schools of technology in Dublin, Galway and Cork, it is absolutely impossible to guarantee a permanent position because of the factors I have indicated. I believe there must be some rationalisation or some plan whereby there will be some limitation on those who present themselves to these colleges. I think the Deputy will agree that there is no point in turning out qualified members of any profession without having regard to the requirements, in this case in respect of medical services.
This year a total of 69 qualified; 45 have got positions and 12 positions have been or are to be advertised. Ten have already been advertised, the closing date being some time in the middle of next month. There is another advertisement for a technician for the Blood Transfusion Service. There is this balance of five and those who qualify this year. As far as I can ascertain—and I have made inquiries, there was no commitment—whether there was a difference between "commitment" and "understanding" I do not know—by the health board hospitals or the voluntary hospitals to take in the students who had completed their course. I am concerned about the balance of 12 who cannot get employment in any of the hospitals. In the past week, since the Deputy put down the question, I made inquiries to the health boards and the voluntary hospitals as to whether these technicians can be fitted in in accordance with personnel requirements in these hospitals.
I am grateful to the Minister for having obviously given the matter some attention but may I direct his attention to two particular aspects of the matter by asking if he is aware that to some extent the difficulty for qualified persons is caused by the fact that there is an agreement in the case of Dublin with Kevin Street, and the hospitals that students undergoing a course of training will be taken into these hospitals to enable them to continue their course and that the intake of students is responsible for qualified students being put out?
That is the method employed; they spend one year in college and two years in the hospitals.
And then another two years for the higher diploma?
Yes, but I am just talking about the initial three years. These are spent between the colleges of technology and the hospitals.
Is it not largely true that the hospitals have an agreement with Kevin Street that they will take in the students and that is responsible for qualified persons who have secured their diplomas being put out? Further, is the Minister aware that many students who are qualified and who are under notice to go are fully engaged in their work and that their services are needed in the hospitals but because of economy measures they have been laid off? As I understand the Minister is sympathetic, will he go very fully into the matter and endeavour to ensure that these young people with very high leaving certificate qualifications who go into these careers will not be laid off at this stage?
As I have said, less than a week ago I began investigations with the health board hospitals and the voluntary hospitals to see if these people could be accommodated.