Vol. 407 No. 4
95 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the number of nurses employed in (a) a permanent capacity (b) a temporary whole-time capacity and (c) part-time in St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The information requested is shown in the following tabular statement: Number of permanent nurses (including job sharers), 133: number of temporary nurses, 21; number of part-time nurses, 2.
These figures include staff employed in all nursing grades at St. Luke's Hospital at the present time. Personnel policy for the health services continues to encourage agencies to improve the ratio of permanent to temporary staff but implementation of this policy is a matter for the health board concerned.
96 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital beds closed down in hospitals in the South Tipperary constituency since February 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have been in touch with the South-Eastern Health Board in order to obtain a comprehensive overview of changes in bed use in the South Tipperary area since 1987 and I will write to the Deputy shortly giving her the full position.
97 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health the reason interviews for nurses are scheduled for positions of a temporary capacity rather than a permanent capacity in St. Luke's Hospital, Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A panel of temporary nurses is being created so that the South Eastern Health Board will have available a pool of suitably qualified staff to fill vacancies of a temporary or short term nature which may arise.
The board are currently filling some vacancies at nursing officer and deputy nursing officer level and will be reviewing the question of filling consequential permanent staff nurse vacancies when the recruitment of the senior personnel has been completed.
