Vol. 472 No. 3
76 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the work to rule by nursing staff in Louth County Hospital; the plans, if any, he has to intervene in order to rectify the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23145/96]
Limerick East): The current dispute concerning nursing staff in Louth County Hospital has been brought to my attention.
The issue of the deployment of staff, within ceiling and budget, is a matter for health board management. Individual health boards are in the best position to determine how best to deploy their own personnel, having due regard to the different priorities and service requirements throughout each boards' area of responsibility.
This matter is being processed through the normal industrial relations channels and I understand there have already been meetings between local management and the Irish Nurses Organisation. A further meeting has been scheduled for today. I am satisfied that the NorthEastern Health Board, in consultation with the Department, should deal with this matter locally at this stage.
