asked the Minister for Health the number of temporary maintenance workers being made redundant by the Mid-Western Health Board; and if he will provide the necessary finance to secure the employment of these workers on a permanent basis, and not until just after Christmas 1978.
Written Answers. - Mid-Western Health Board Workers.
314.
In my reply to Question No. 413 of 14 November 1978—Official Report, Volume 309, column 767—I stated that I understood that the Mid-Western Health Board were satisfied that their programme of minor capital works could be continued until the end of 1978 within the moneys which I allocated to the board for this purpose.
The minor capital works consist of a wide variety of small scale projects scattered throughout the health board's area. Some of the projects are contracted out and the balance undertaken by the workers employed by the board. The numbers of workers engaged on the projects vary from time to time as the works are developed and completed. I understand from the health board that the present complement of temporary workers will be continued in employment to complete the programme.
The employment of permanent staff is a matter for the health board in the first instance and I have no current proposals from the board for the permanent employment of these maintenance workers based on a continued need for their services.