asked the Minister for Health what steps are being taken to remedy the current inadequate staffing in local authority hospitals; in what categories and locations the problem is most acute; and when he expects existing deficiencies will be filled.

Precise up-to-date information about the occurrence of vacancies for staff of all grades over the whole range of local authority hospitals is not readily available but the Deputy may take it that when such vacancies arise health authorities take every step open to them to fill vacancies promptly.

Taking the position broadly, the filling of vacancies on nursing staffs does not present a difficult problem except in a relatively small number of cases of long stay institutions. As regards junior medical staff who normally are engaged for short terms, the position has been difficult in hospitals outside the main centres of population but it has recently improved following improvement in remuneration and working conditions. In the case of consultant medical staff the main difficulty arises in the case of radiological appointments and is a reflection of a world-wide shortage of consultants in this specialty.

Problems relating to consultant staffing in health authority acute hospitals are at present being discussed by my Department with representatives of the Irish Medical Association and the Medical Union and I am hopeful that as a result of these discussions agreement will be reached on means whereby such deficiencies and shortcomings as exist in consultant staffing will be made good.

Has the Minister any information about domestic workers?

I have no information here.

It would be interesting to have such information.