141 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the public hospitals within each health board where job sharing for nurses operates; whether he proposes to introduce regulations to ensure a uniform national policy relating to job sharing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22564/96]

Limerick East): The job sharing scheme, which was introduced in 1985, is applicable to all health agencies, including health boards, under the aegis of the Department of Health. The scheme is open to all staff. The terms of the scheme provide that its operation and management is a matter for each health agency and must necessarily depend on the demands of the service.

The decision as to whether a specific post or category of post may be filled on a job sharing basis is a matter for the employing authority. My Department has urged health agencies to make the scheme available to as many employees as possible, taking into account service considerations.