asked the Minister for Health what facilities he has made or intends to make to enable nurses to get leave of absence without pay so that they may do courses, if necessary abroad, to improve their general knowledge of nursing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nursing Courses.
14.
Health authorities have my general authorisation to grant facilities to members of their nursing staffs to attend approved postgraduate courses, seminars and conferences. The facilities granted can take the form of special leave, with or without pay, appointment of substitutes and payment of travelling expenses and subsistence allowances. Health authorities may, subject to my approval, extend these concessions to particular study occasions not covered by the general authorisation when they are satisfied that the value for the public service which any of their nurses would get from participation would justify the grant of the concessions. In the case of courses abroad this test would have to be applied in a searching fashion.