Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Staffing.

Alan Shatter

Question:

53 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a psychologist (details supplied) specialising in attention deficit disorder was attached to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin for a period of six months ending on 31 December 1998, that this post has not been continued during 1999 and there is a need for this permanent post to be attached to the hospital; and the initiative, if any, he will take in this regard. [12925/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I understand from Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, that in April 1998 an appoint ment was made on a temporary basis of a psychologist to provide general support to psychology services at the hospital and to provide an assessment of children presenting with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, ADDH. The appointee resigned during the week ending 24 January 1999.

I further understand that it is the hospital's firm intention to recruit a replacement psychologist and that it hopes to be in a position to appoint a suitably qualified candidate in the near future.

The Deputy will be aware that the prioritisation of staffing requirements at Our Lady's Hospital is a matter, in the first instance, for the management of that hospital and that my Department has no direct involvement in determining its staffing requirements.