Vol. 474 No. 6
88 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that chartered physiotherapists who have completed a four year BSc degree course are emigrating in view of poor pay and promotional prospects; the action, if any, he intends taking to improve their status and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3500/97]
126 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Health when he will review chartered physiotherapists' pay in view of the fact that the last review of their pay was 17 years ago and physiotherapists' pay has fallen far behind that of other graduate health professionals. [3821/97]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 126 together.
I presume that the review referred to by Deputy Moffatt is that of the 1978 working party established to examine the grading structure for physiotherapists in hospitals. The report of the working party was circulated in 1979. However, this was not a pay review.
Physiotherapists, similar to all other paramedical professions, have benefited in full from all standard and special pay awards under the various national pay programmes down through the years. The relative position of physiotherapists, in terms of remuneration, has been maintained with those of their colleagues in other paramedical disciplines.
IMPACT, on behalf of physiotherapists, is currently pursuing a pay claim under clause 2 (iii) — annex 1 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. These negotiations are complex and are ongoing under the auspices of health service employers' agency, with a view to arriving at a mutually satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible.
In these circumstances, I am sure that the Deputies will appreciate that any further comment on my part would not be appropriate or helpful.
