asked the Minister for Health whether his sanction has been sought for the granting of increased salaries to the nursing staff in Grangegorman mental hospital; and, if so, if he will state his decision thereon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grangegorman Salary Increases.
I have been approached by the Grangegorman mental hospital authority on the question of increasing the remuneration of the authority's nursing staffs and I have intimated that I am not prepared to approve any adjustment in the rates of remuneration of such staff based on an increase in the cost of living except as part of any general adjustment of remuneration of employees of local authorities generally. I have pointed out that the staff concerned participated in all previous adjustments of bonus including that in May, 1951, to the same extent as all other local authority staffs.
I have also intimated to the Grangegorman mental hospital authority that I am prepared to discuss a review of the basis of remuneration of nursing staffs in Grangegorman and Portrane mental hospitals on lines similar to the recent revision in the case of nursing staffs in provincial mental hospitals and the preliminary steps towards the making of such a review are at present being taken. Adjustments based on an increase in the cost of living will be excluded from the review.
May I take it from the Minister's reply that the manager's recommendations have been rejected by him?
The manager did not make any recommendations. He asked questions.