asked the Minister for Health if he will make financial facilities available to enable newly appointed public health nurses to purchase cars, particularly in rural areas, for the purpose of carrying out their duties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Health Nurses.
65.
It is not standard practice to provide a car for a public health nurse on taking up an appointment. The normal procedure is to grant a mileage rate or a fixed annual allowance based on the mileage rate. It is a matter for the employer to decide which type of allowance is more appropriate.
The allowance is intended to cover the overall cost of running a car, including depreciation, while used on official duties and is revised from time to time in line with increased costs.
I am sure the Minister appreciates that these young nurses very often have no means as they have only come from their training. I am advised by the nurses organisation that this is raising a difficulty. Those nurses have no means of getting a car. Would the Minister consider making representations to the banks to provide some loan facilities to this category having regard to the fact they would be given a guaranteed salary?
I do not think I could do it. I would not be prepared to do it in respect of one particular category, not alone in the health services but in other services as well. I have the utmost sympathy not alone with public health nurses but other employees of the State who become employed for the first time. They have to make their own arrangements with the banks or some hire purchase companies in order to buy cars to enable them to carry out their duties. If this were to be repeated in the local authority service in respect of home assistance officers, new engineers, or indeed anybody from any of the Departments who has to travel, it would involve perhaps tens of thousands of pounds. I do not think the State would be prepared, nor should it be, to provide such facilities as the question suggests and as the Deputy suggests.
This age group may not find it easy to get the money unless they get the go ahead from the Department.
I appreciate how difficult it must be but, as I said, this category of employee is not any different from thousands in the State.
They are giving an essential service.
They are all giving an essential service.