andMr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the necessity to provide physiotherapy services in the community section of the health services, he will consider making the necessary appointments in the immediate future.

The creation of additional posts of physiotherapists in the health boards community care services is a matter, in the first instance, for the health boards concerned. Any proposals submitted to my Department for additional appointments will be considered as sympathetically as possible.

Does the Minister agree that the problem with the Southern Health Board in recruiting physiotherapists can be attributed to the fact that the salary scale for such important work seems to be very low and that this is the reason he is not able to attract people to take up the profession?

The salaries were revised following the general revision of salaries which applied to nurses and para-medical staff. As I understand it those were not satisfactory in the past but are now satisfactory. That would certainly improve the position.