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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 Nov 1971

Vol. 256 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Psychiatric Post.

12.

asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a statement attributed to the Chief Psychiatrist, Dublin Health Authority that he would not take the post of Programme Director unless he was given the staff he requested; and whether it is his intention to accede to this request.

I am aware of the statement referred to by the Deputy. The Health Board has approved of the creation of certain posts under the Programme Manager, Special Hospital Care. This action has my approval.

Is it proposed to allow other health authorities to appoint a part-timer at £5,000 a year to this kind of job while somebody else does the work?

I could not answer the Deputy.

The Minister must be aware, since he gave a reply, that the proposal is that somebody should be appointed to the position of Programme Director on a part-time basis at £5,000 approximately a year while somebody else is, according to the directions of the person getting the job, appointed to do the work. Is that the proposal for each of the other Health Boards?

This is a question of appointing administrative assistants to the Programme Manager.

The Minister is well aware that what I am asking is if he will sanction or has sanctioned that it is necessary to have this? This man would not take the post of Programme Director unless he was given the staff he requested which means assistants to do the work while he acts as a parttimer at £5,000 a year. Is this to be the policy of the new Health Boards?

The Deputy had better ask a specific question. A number of Programme Managers are still to be appointed. They failed to be appointed as a result of a recent competition held by the Local Appointments Commission. The position varies throughout the country.

I take it the Minister proposes to sanction the appointment of part-timers at this rate for the other boards?

The rate varies from area to area. I could not possibly answer the Deputy because this is a very complex business. I could not keep the salary rates in my head for all programme officers and functional officers in the eight Health Boards.

Is the Minister so anxious to get away from the matter that he will not answer?

The Deputy can ask another question.

I can and I will.

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