andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Health whether the question of the conditions of service and remuneration for hospital porters was submitted to the Hospitals Commission; if so, what were their recommendations in the matter; if such recommendations were accepted by the unions concerned; whether the authorities concerned must have his approval before implementing any new rates; and, if so, whether such approval was granted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Porters.
5.
I am informed that a revised rate of pay for porters employed in voluntary hospitals was recently the subject of discussion between the hospital authorities, represented by the hospitals section of the Federated Union of Employers, and the trade union concerned, and that the revised rate agreed upon in course of discussion was referred to the Hospitals Commission for its advice. The advice of the Hospitals Commission was that no greater rate of pay for hospital porters should be recognised than the standard rate, as revised under the eighth round of increases, payable for similar posts under the Dublin Health Authority. That rate, apparently, is not acceptable to the trade union concerned.
The rates of pay of staffs of voluntary hospitals are a matter for the authorities of those hospitals, but the grants to be paid from the Hospitals Trust Fund to hospitals participating in the scheme for the recoupment of revenue deficits are determined on the basis of rates of pay recommended by the Hospitals Commission and authorised by me. Generally such rates are in line with the rates payable for similar posts in the local health services.