andJ. Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he is yet in a position to state when a decision will be issued in regard to the proposal of the South Cork Board of Public Assistance to grant extra remuneration to staff nurses at St. Finbarr's Hospital, Cork, who are in charge of wards; further, when he discussed this matter with representatives of the board.

I have put certain proposals to the South Cork Board of Public Assistance regarding the appointment of ward sisters in St. Finbarr's Hospital, Cork, and I am awaiting the board's reply.

I discussed this matter briefly with members of the board during my visit to Cork last autumn and again on the 2nd December last when I received a deputation from the board to discuss various aspects of the hospitalisation programme in Cork.

Would the Minister inform us when he communicated with the board of assistance?

On the 6th April last.