Robert Molloy
Question:6 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding the pay negotiations of speech and language therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12428/96]
Céisteanna—Questions. Oral Questions. - Speech and Language Therapists.
(Limerick East): As the Deputy is aware, the talks between my Department and IMPACT on behalf of speech and language therapists are complex. However, direct negotiations are ongoing, under the auspices of the Health Service Employers Agency, with a view to arriving at a mutually satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible.
In these circumstances any further comment on my part would not be appropriate or helpful at this point. Deputies are aware that a series of negotiations are taking place between relevant Departments and public servants either in their direct employ or in the agencies. Deputies will be pleased to learn that clerical and administrative staff in local authorities and health boards, through their union IMPACT, have voted to agree a wage offer. Deputies will be pleased to hear also that last night the nurses' alliance recommended acceptance by their members of the latest offer from the independent arbitrators. A ballot on the offer will be held in October. While there are many disputes at different levels of negotiation, one public service dispute involving clerical and administrative officers in health boards and local authorities has now concluded on acceptable terms to both sides. I hope we will have a good result from the nurses' ballot also. On the management side we are making a formal offer and the nurses' alliance, which consists of the four unions representing nurses around the country, have issued a joint statement to their members recommending acceptance.
I welcome the announcement of success in the negotiations, particularly with the nursing profession. Is the Minister aware that the European Court of Justice has ruled on a case in the United Kingdom that low pay rates for the predominantly female profession of speech therapists could constitute sexual discrimination? In relation to the ongoing problem of agreeing pay and conditions with a range of public service workers, would it not be possible to devise a more simple grading structure in the health service which would reduce the amount of time and energy spent on processing relativity claims to which the Minister referred? Also, in a written reply on 8 May the Minister said that the speech therapists' claim was being processed and the management side was available for further discussions. Has any progress been made in this protracted dispute over the low pay of speech and language therapists compared to other persons of similar qualifications?
(Limerick East): I am aware of the case in the United Kingdom but it is not comparable because the speech and language services profession in Ireland is not exclusively female.
It is predominantly female. There are four men out of a total number of 250.
(Limerick East): I know it is a predominantly female profession but I understand the issue in the case in England was whether the profession was exclusively female. Here there are men in the profession; therefore it is not possible to prove that there is sexual discrimination.
A large number of groups are currently in negotiation under the third round of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. While the first and second round of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work nominated fixed percentage increases on fixed days across a range of grades, in the case of the third round there is a negotiation where one can go above the line in trade-offs for restructuring, along the lines the Deputy mentioned, or productivity. That process is taking a long time but it must be done under the terms of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
Deputies will be aware of the teachers' dispute which is ongoing; that comes under phase 3 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. The same applies to the CPSU dispute, on which there was a vote recently which was again defeated. The good news, however, is that one group has now accepted the offer put to it.
The issue the Deputy raises is significantly more serious as it involves regrading, simplification and so on. The current discussions are partly concerned with the degree to which restructuring can be introduced but workers are not prepared to accept major restructuring for small amounts of money.
To return to the question, the reason I am introducing the other areas is that this is very similar. It is simply another process of negotiation under phase 3 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. Talks are ongoing and the Health Service Employers Agency is involved. We hope the talks will come to a satisfactory conclusion but I assure the Deputy I am aware of the excellent work being done by this small, dedicated group of professionals and I am actively seeking a negotiated settlement.
Is the Minister aware of any vacancies for speech therapists in the various health boards?
(Limerick East): The area within the health board where the services of speech therapists are being used has been extended. There are language disorder units in a number of health board areas. In the acute hospitals, speech therapists are being employed for patients who are recovering from strokes, for example. Trinity College is the only college that trains speech therapists. There are probably vacancies because the supply is not sufficient to meet the demand. There are also employment possibilities in the private sector. In addition, right across the professions, many young people, particularly young women, like to travel for up to five years after qualification. Even though sufficient people are being trained to meet a perceived need, they do not all stay in the country.