asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether, having regard to the outstanding importance of the work performed by public health nurses and their present inadequate remuneration, he is prepared to review the basic scale of salaries attaching to their positions, with a view to a substantial improvement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Health Nurses' Salaries.
The remuneration of public health nurses, which is primarily a matter for the local authorities concerned, was reviewed in 1944 when the adoption of a uniform rate of remuneration was recommended for the posts. The scale so recommended had the effect of improving the salary scales of nurses in many areas. Public health nurses, in addition to their salary, are provided with free uniforms or allowances in lieu and are also entitled to receive emergency bonus, in accordance with the rates payable generally from time to time.
I should like to ask if the Parliamentary Secretary agrees that in the case of the City of Dublin the public health nurses have not had the maximum of their scale increased for the past 17 years, the figure being £200. I am prepared to admit that there was an improvement in other cases, but in the case of the City of Dublin no improvement has taken place.
That arises out of the fact that they were on a comparatively high scale.
That is a matter of opinion.
I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary what he means by saying that it is primarily a matter for the local authorities.
I think the term explains itself.
If the local authority, or the city manager, recommends a higher scale than the existing one in the case of the City of Dublin, will the Parliamentary Secretary be prepared to consider it favourably?
To consider it.
Favourably?
To consider it.