asked the Minister for Health the number of district nurses attached to the Dublin Health Authority and operating in the Dublin city area; their remuneration, mode of travelling and travelling allowances; and if, having regard to the large number of cases for which they are expected to cater, he is satisfied that the travelling arrangements are satisfactory.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin District Nurses.
53.
There are 115 public health nurses in the service of the Dublin Health Authority, seven of whom are at present assigned to dispensary and district nursing duties.
The national salary scale for the office of public health nurse is £870 × £28—£1,010.
I understand that the Dublin Health Authority recoups the cost of bus fares incurred by public health nurses when travelling in the city area in the course of their duties, and that the seven nurses on district duties have opted for an allowance of £20 a year in lieu of this settlement.
These arrangements appear to be satisfactory.
Is the Minister aware that these nurses could not possibly discharge their duties if they were to rely on public transport, their case-load is so heavy at the moment? Would the Minister use his best endeavours to see that they are given a travelling allowance or a car allowance commensurate with the duties they have to discharge? After all, it costs £3,500 a year to provide a car for a Minister.
Mr. O'Malley
The Deputy is not conversant with the entire position. The Dublin Health Authority provide nurses with supplies of vouchers for bus tickets to meet their requirements in respect of official duties. Three of the nurses engaged on the tuberculosis service and one on the child health service in the county area are paid car mileage rates. Four nurses engaged on district duties in Clondalkin, Tallaght, Lusk and Balbriggan are paid travelling allowances of £100—this was £50 only in one case up to recently—in respect of the use of their own cars. I also understand that a motor scooter is provided by the health authority for the nurse in the Sallynoggin area. The remaining nurses engaged on district nursing still under the control of the Health Authority, that is seven in the county borough area and two in Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire area, are not provided with bus tickets but are paid cash allowances. I should also remind the Deputy that I recently approved the appointment of three additional public health nurses and the appointment of these additional nurses will improve the position in regard to district nursing generally in the city area.
Is the Minister aware that most of these nurses have cars of their own? If they were to rely on public transport they would never get around their patients which would mean that the sick poor would suffer. These nurses are paying for these cars and are not recouped for their expenditure. They are being supplied with vouchers for bus tickets which they do not use.
Mr. O'Malley
I am having discussions with the nursing organisations and I am sure we will come up with a satisfactory solution to the problem.
The Deputy will get plenty of information if he asks politely.