asked the Minister for Health if he will give sanction to the agreement reached by the Irish Nurses' Organisation and the staff negotiations board on behalf of public health nurses for the introduction of a five-day, 40-hour week where not already in operation and for financial compensation for duty commitments at the weekend.

My sanction has been conveyed to health boards to the implementation of a five-day, 40-hour week and compensation for weekend duty for public health nurses.