asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that, under the present upper age limit fixed for employment as a mental nurse, probationary and temporary male nurses who joined the Army for the duration of the emergency have found that, having attained the age limit, they will, on release from military service, be debarred from re-employment in the mental hospital service and if he will consider taking steps to waive the upper age limit in such cases.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Age Limits for Mental Nurses.
The qualifications declared for the offices of attendant in a district mental hospital and auxiliary mental hospital are applicable to new appointments. There is no power to appoint to such offices persons who do not possess the prescribed qualifications or to authorise a departure from the declared qualifications as regards particular candidates. It may be that the cases referred to might not come within the category of new appointments. If the Deputy would send me particulars, I would look into the matter further.