With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
There are ten nurse tutor vacancies at present in psychiatric and general nursing training hospitals administered by local authorities. Temporary appointments have been made to all but one of these vacancies. Additional posts will be created when the supply of qualified personnel increases. The situation in regard to qualified tutors has much improved in recent years since the initiation of nurse tutor diploma courses at UCD. I understand that 19 students, including seven nurses in the employment of local authorities, are attending the current course.
The remuneration of nurse tutors, as of other nursing grades in the health services, is determined under agreed negotiating procedures which apply to local authority staffs generally. My only function is to record or withhold approval of settlements arrived at under these arrangements.