asked the Minister for Health if he will give the reasons for the change of policy in his Department which prohibits local authorities from paying the salary of locum tenens for dispensary medical officers attending post-graduate courses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Medical Locum Tenens.
It is accepted that medical and other officers of health authorities should normally be afforded facilities to keep abreast of developments in their professions through attendance, when appropriate, at post-graduate courses.
Having regard to the prevailing economic circumstances, it was found necessary, as an economy measure, to announce that such facilities could not, as a general proposition, be granted where they involved public expenditure. I am keeping the matter under review and when the financial position improves, I hope that it will be possible to resume the former practice.
Does this policy apply to other officials of local authorities, for instance, county engineers and agricultural instructors?
As the Deputy must know, I am not responsible for county engineers and agricultural instructors.
I appreciate that, but the Minister will appreciate also that the health of the people of the country is just as important as the roads.
There is nothing to prevent any doctor from attending post-graduate courses if he wishes to, provided he does not ask us to pay a locum for him.
The Minister is not encouraging him.