asked the Minister for Health why temporary craftsmen employed by the Midland Health Board at St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar, have not been re-employed after the recent craftsmen's strike.
Written Answers. - Re-employment of Craftsmen.
358.
Following the provision of moneys earlier this year by my Department for schemes of improvement in the maintenance services of health boards the Midland Health Board engaged a number of maintenance staff in direct employment on a temporary basis on schemes of maintenance work throughout the region.
Fourteen of these temporary staff were employed in St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar, and St. Peter's Hospital, Castlepollard. Some of these staff were employed in connection with the provision of a temporary kitchen and staff dining hall at St. Loman's. The temporary kitchen and staff dining hall were required to facilitate the commencement of a contract for a new kitchen and staff dining hall.
Because of a work-to-rule and strike action by maintenance staff and the pressing nature of the contract for a new kitchen and staff dining hall, the board were obliged to make alternative arrangements to finish off the temporary facilities. During the period of the strike the appointments of the temporary maintenance staff expired.
As alternative arrangements had been made for the provision of the temporary facilities the board were not in a position to offer employment to nine of the maintenance workers in question. Since then, however, the board have offered employment to one of the nine involved.