asked the Minister for Health if he will state the date of application from Our Lady's Hospital, Cork, requesting creation of a post of assistant medical officer (female) at that hospital; how many further inquiries regarding this application were submitted, indicating the dates; and when a decision may be arrived at in connection with the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Assistant Medical Officer in Cork Hospital.
15.
The following is the information requested by the Deputy:
(a) The creation of two additional permanent posts of assistant medical officer was sanctioned in September, 1954, and my Department suggested that one of the posts should be held by a lady doctor. The manager agreed to this suggestion on 21st October, 1954. The post has been filled on a temporary basis since November, 1956, with the exception of a short period in 1957.
(b) Six inquiries regarding the filling of this post were received on the following dates from the mental hospital authority: 21st February, 20th March, 21st April, 9th June, 3rd September and 18th September—all of this year.
(c) The filling of this and a number of similar posts on a permanent basis has been delayed pending consideration of revised qualifications and salary scales for them. The question of the qualifications has been disposed of and I hope to be in a position to arrive at a decision on the question of salary scales in the very near future— steps to fill the post on a permanent basis will then be taken.