Denis Naughten
Question:186 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will be recruiting any additional Environmental Health Officers in the near future. [17626/97]
Written Answers. - Environmental Health Officers.
Denis Naughten
Question:206 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will be recruiting any additional Environmental Health Officers in the near future. [17785/97]
The recruitment and appointment of Environmental Health Officers is usually a matter for each health board in the first instance. However, part of the recent pay agreement for this grade, made under clause 2 (iii) — annex 1 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work , includes a condition that no additional environmental health officers will be employed in excess of the approved complement of 277, whole-time equivalent, between the date of the agreement and the end of 1999. However, the agreement also includes a provision that this approved complement will be reviewed in the event of significant developments occurring within the environmental health service.