Michael Ring
Ceist:123 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the panel for permanent nursing positions in St. Mary's Hospital in Castlebar, County Mayo to July 1997. [6267/96]
Written Answers. - Nursing Positions in Mayo.
Limerick East): The Western Health Board is responsible for the management of services and deployment of staff at St. Mary's Hospital, Castlebar, County Mayo. Current personnel policy for the health service provides that health agencies which are managing resources within allocation may fill non-consultant replacement posts, including nursing vacancies, without recourse to the Department.
As the Deputy is aware, nine permanent staff nurse posts were recently filled by nurses who had previously been employed on a temporary basis. The remaining 23 temporary nurses have been accommodated on a relief panel from which temporary and locum staff are drawn in rota.
The panel will continue until July this year. No decision has been made by the Western Health Board on the extension of the panel beyond July 1996.