Vol. 555 No. 2
282 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will intervene in the dispute at the Daughters of Charity, Navan Road, Dublin 7; and if the seven nursing positions will be filled as soon as possible. [17990/02]
My colleagues, Deputy Dempsey, Minister for Education and Science and Deputies Tim O'Malley and Brian Lenihan, Ministers of State at my Department, have met representatives of the parents. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the management of the centre. Local management has been endeavouring to resolve the difficulties and this process is ongoing. The Ministers agreed that the Departments would nominate two people with relevant professional experience in this area to provide whatever assistance they can to local management in the matter. The two people nominated by the Departments met representatives of the families and other relevant parties last week.
I understand that as part of the internal process to resolve the difficulties which have arisen in the services, it has been agreed by the staff representatives that an internal working group is being established to work with the various professionals with a view to reaching a resolution in these matters. The initial timeframe for the group to complete this work is one month, with the first meeting due to take place this week. I also understand that the facilitator, who is assisting with the internal process, is to meet representatives of the parents tonight. I have been assured by the management in St. Vincent's Centre that every effort is being made to fill the nursing vacancies in this service.
