asked the Minister for Education the steps he has taken since his recent statement to the Dáil to resolve the dispute in the Dental Hospital, Dublin.
Written Answers. - Dublin Dental Hospital.
60.
Although I have no function in this matter, my Department has been keeping in close touch with the situation.
This case originated with a claim for a salary increase which was made in 1974 by senior instructor dental technicians at the Dublin Dental Hospital.
The case was processed through the Labour Court and there were two hearings in May and September, 1975. The Court issued its findings on 31st December, 1975 and these findings have been implemented. During the discussions before the Labour Court it was stated that the senior instructor dental technicians do not teach in excess of 50 per cent of their working time.
In autumn, 1977, there was an increased intake of students at the Dublin Dental Hospital and some of the senior instructor dental technicians were rostered to teach in excess of 50 per cent of their time. The terms of appointment of the senior instructor dental technicians indicate that their duties, under the head of department, "shall include the teaching of students".
The senior instructor dental technicians, through their union, objected to being time-tabled to teach in excess of 50 per cent of working time, on the grounds that this constituted a change in working conditions for which there must be recompense, and the union instructed its members not to teach in excess of 50 per cent of their working time.
The board of the Dublin Dental Hospital and both the Departments of Education and the Public Service consider that the matter should be referred back to the Labour Court. The union has refused to resume teaching as rostered, pending Labour Court proceedings, unless the basis of referral is a joint statement agreed by the board of the hospital and by the union.
A draft statement was prepared by the board of the hospital and referred to the union on 1st December, 1977. No response has been received from the union.