asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether any decision has been reached regarding the claims of the staff of the Mental Hospital, Monaghan, for the same terms of employment as the staff employed at Grangegorman and, if so, the nature of the decision.

I recently received a deputation from the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union who submitted representations in this matter on behalf of the nursing staffs of all provincial district mental hospitals. I am giving these representations very careful consideration and hope to announce a decision at a very early date.