Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 4

Written Answers. - Nursing Staff.

Michael Ring

Question:

186 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of nurses employed by the Western Health Board; the numbers for each hospital in the health board area; the number of these nurses which are permanent and temporary; the reason temporary staff are not appointed as permanent in view of the shortage of nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12077/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The principal source of data on employment levels among nurses is my Department's annual personnel census. The most recent census available is 31 December 1997. The 1998 census is in the process of being completed. The number of nurses employed by the Western Health Board at 31 December 1997 was 2,492.91 wholetime equivalents, WTE. The position for each general hospital in the health board area is as follows.

Hospital	Perm.(WTE)	Temp.(WTE)	Total
Mayo General, Castlebar	193	11	204
Merlin Park, Galway	107	80	187
Roscommon General	64	3	67
University Hospital, Galway	336	116	452

Total

700

210

910

For psychiatric nurses, both hospital and community based, the position was:

	Perm.(WTE)	Temp.(WTE)	Total
East Galway Services	272	25	297
Mayo Services	196	24	220
Roscommon Services	89	13	102
West Galway Services	58	10	68
Total	615	72	687

I have been informed by the Western Health Board that it has conducted competitions for conversion of long-term temporary nurses to permanent in accordance with the criteria outlined in the 1997 nursing pay agreement. A competition under phase two of that agreement is currently in train and long-term temporary nurses who qualify for appointment will be assigned to existing permanent vacancies in the institutions where they work.