asked the Minister for Defence how many resignations there have been from Seirbhís Altranais an Airm during the past four years from each of the following hospitals: St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin, the Military Hospital, Athlone, the Military Hospital, Curragh, County Kildare, and the Military Hospital, Cork; and if he will indicate how many of these vacancies have been filled in each case, together with details of the number of extra staff that have been recruited in each hospital to operate the 90-hour fortnight, which has not yet been introduced in all military hospitals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seirbhís Altranais an Airm.
35.
The number of resignations from Seirbhís Altranais an Airm during the past four years was:—
|
St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin |
Military Hospital, Athlone |
Military Hospital, Curragh Camp |
Military Hospital, Cork |
|
|
1960 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
— |
|
1961 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
— |
|
1962 |
1 |
— |
2 |
2 |
|
1963 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
All of the vacancies caused by these resignations have been filled.
Following representations from Cumann na mBanaltraí nGaedhealach the necessary steps are being taken to provide an increased establishment which will enable the 90-hour fortnight to be put into operation in all hospitals.
36.
asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the apparent difficulty in recruiting nursing staff, he will accept the recommendation made by the Irish Nurses' Organisation that advertisements for vacancies should be inserted in both Irish and English in the public press, as has recently been done in the case of candidates for the Garda Síochána.
Difficulty is not being experienced in filling vacancies for appointments as Siúr in Seirbhís Altranais an Airm and it is not proposed to depart from the practice of advertising such appointments in Irish only.
37.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will give a favourable decision on the representations made by the Irish Nurses' Organisation that nurses in Seirbhís Altranais an Airm should have the option of remaining in the service until the age of sixty-five years, or until they have completed thirty years' service, so as to enable them to qualify for a reasonable pension.
The question of extending the retiring ages for nurses in Seirbhís Altranais an Airm is under consideration and I cannot say what decision will ultimately be reached. I might point out, however, that under the existing retiring age, it is possible for a nurse to complete at least thirty years' service, depending on age on appointment, and so qualify for the maximum rate of retired pay.
38.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will make provision for more generous pensions for nurses who may have to resign from the Army through ill health, by the addition of fifteen years to service for the purpose of calculating pension.
A member of the Army Nursing Service with ten or more years' service whose services are terminated on account of mental or physical incapacity due to disease or injury contracted as the actual result of the employment or of the nature of the employment may, under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Scheme, be granted added years of service for pension purposes amounting to one-third of her actual number of years of service or the difference between her actual service and thirty years, whichever is the less.
The scheme provides for the grant of a pension calculated on one-sixtieth of annual emoluments for each year of qualifying service with an additional one-sixtieth for the twenty-first and each succeeding year of qualifying service, subject to a maximum of two-thirds of emoluments. Thus a member granted added years under the foregoing provision can qualify for full pension after twenty-three years' actual service.
In addition there is provision in the Army Pensions Acts for the payment of benefit in respect of injury sustained by members of the Army Nursing Service in circumstances attributable to such service.
I have recently received from Cumann na mBanaltraí nGaedhealach a request for further provision of the nature mentioned in the Deputy's question. This is being considered, but I am not in a position at present to indicate what the outcome will be.
The Kathleen Mavourneen system.
We have done pretty well as it is.