asked the Minister for Health the position of the city medical officer on the dissolution of the Dublin Health Authority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Chief Medical Officer.
7.
The present holder of the office of Chief Medical Officer, Dublin Health Authority, is resigning on 28th February, 1971. Pending the dissolution of Dublin Health Authority on 31st March, 1971, the existing post is not being filled. However, arrangements which the Eastern Health Board will make for the carrying out of the functions now discharged by the Chief Medical Officer are being discussed with the interested parties and decisions on this matter should be taken shortly.
Is the Minister aware that the City Medical Officer's functions also embrace sanitary services and housing? Will he state how the Eastern Health Board could have a medical officer who would be under their direction and also under the direction of Dublin Corporation?
That is exactly what is being discussed in relation to the Chief Medical Officer and the programme manager for community services and in relation also to the sanitary duties of the retiring Chief Medical Officer. There must be a discussion with the authority concerned as to how these duties should be divided up and these negotiations are taking place.
Can the Minister state when this will be resolved?
I would not like to comment at this stage. The whole matter is under discussion.
Having regard to the housing problem and the relevant medical factors involved and pending the establishment of the Eastern Health Board, can we be assured that the City Medical Officer, or a person acting as locum tenens, will be able to perform the duties of City Medical Officer between 28th February and 1st April?
The Deputy should communicate with the Dublin Health Authority on this matter. I have been informed, and I have no reason to believe that this is not the case, that the duties of the retiring Chief Medical Officer will be divided among officers in such a way that there will be a proper carrying on of the work pending decisions on how these posts should be allotted and what should be the powers and responsibilities of the programme manager for community services and the officers under him. How these should be co-ordinated with the work that has to be done in relation to the inspection of housing, sanitation, planning and control of pollution will also be considered.