Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:91 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his guidelines in relation to the use of contract labour in service employment in hospitals such as Beaumont in the Eastern Health Board area. [2333/95]
Written Answers. - Contract Staff.
Limerick East): The question of opting for the contracting out of services, such as cleaning, laundry and catering services, is a matter for each health agency to evaluate in the context of ensuring maximum efficiency in the use of limited resources. Such an evaluation must necessarily involve consideration of the standard and the quality of service concerned as well as the cost. The only guidelines issued by my Department, in this regard, relate to the statutory obligations of employers to part-time employees where agencies were asked to ensure that contracts are not awarded to any company which is in breach of its statutory obligations or is considered to be taking measures to evade its obligations.