asked the Minister for Health if he has refused to sanction the payment of the salary submitted by the county manager for the position of surgeon to the County Hospital, Portlaoighise; and, if so, if he will state if his refusal to do so is the cause of the long delay in filling the vacancy and if he is now prepared to sanction payment of this salary for this responsible position and to request the Local Appointments Commissioners to fill the vacancy without further delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salary of Portlaoighise Hospital Surgeon.
The Deputy will appreciate that it is desirable that there should be a uniform basis of remuneration for county surgeons throughout the country and as proposals submitted to me by the manager in regard to the appointment of a county surgeon for Laoighis were out of line with those applicable elsewhere I was unable to sanction them.
The conditions of service of county surgeons have been the subject of discussion and agreement has been reached on all but a few matters of detail. I expect that final agreement will be reached in the near future, immediately following which the vacancy now in question will be advertised.