Vol. 507 No. 2
142 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of temporary nurses who are employed at Longford-Westmeath General Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath, are not paid immediately when due increments; the reason these nurses have to wait considerable periods of time before they are appointed to permanent positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16398/99]
145 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if state registered nurses employed in temporary positions at Longford-Westmeath General Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath are not being paid their due increments commensurate with their qualifications and period of service; if he will ensure that all increments are paid immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16432/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 145 together.
The Midland Health Board has confirmed to my Department that there is no delay in granting incremental credit to temporary nurses employed at the Longford-Westmeath General Hospital, Mullingar and that the relevant national agreements are applied. Heretofore, temporary nurses have been paid in accordance with Department of Health circular S103/196 dated 25 November 1992, which gave effect to the wholetime temporary nurses agreement (1992), as follows: two increments may be granted with effect from 1 January 1992 to those nurses with two years full-time continuous service, or the equivalent of two years aggregate service in the preceding three years in the health service; a further increment may be granted, if appropriate, not earlier than 1 January 1993; a further increment may be granted, if appropriate, not earlier than 1 January 1994.
In accordance with the 1997 nurses pay agreement, incremental credit was allowed up to the seventh point with effect from June 1996.
