Vol. 396 No. 4
117 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of district health nurses currently employed in County Clare; the equivalent figures for each year from 1987 to 1989, inclusive; the plans, if any, he has for the expansion of this area in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The whole-time equivalent numbers of public health nurses employed in County Clare is as follows: December 1987, 33; December 1988, 33; December 1989, 32; current, 32.
The needs of the public health nursing service in this area are being kept under review in the context of available resources and service need. In this regard, I might add that current personnel policy gives the employing authority, in this case the Mid-Western Health Board, discretion to make additional appointments within existing overall personnel resources should the service needs so require.
