Vol. 476 No. 3
64 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the vital role played by the nursing attendants in the provision of care for residents in St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, County Dublin; if his attention has further been drawn to the low salary scale, the lack of overtime available and the inadequate pension arrangements for these workers; and the proposals, if any, he has to rectify this situation. [7141/97]
Limerick East): Claims for general improvements in pay or other conditions for this group have to date been incorporated in the wider Dublin non-nursing group negotiations represented by SIPTU.
The grade of attendant is employed widely both within the Eastern Health Board and the wider health service. There are 200 attendants employed by the Eastern Health Board and assigned to St. Ita's Hospital. The staff there are currently paid the scale applicable to all attendants throughout the board, i.e., £207.24-£219.94 — 13 point incremental scale. These staff have received all pay increases negotiated and due under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. This includes both general round increases and special increases under the terms of national pay agreements.
Obviously the requirement to work overtime in any sector of the health and wider public service must be related to service needs. At present the service does not require that overtime be worked by this group.
Discussions are ongoing with SIPTU on a national basis with regard to pension issues for all non-nursing grades including these staff. In fact, the Pensions Commission has agreed to examine the specific issues raised by SIPTU in relation to the pension arrangements of non-officer grades in the Eastern Health Board and the Dublin Voluntary Hospitals, and to issue an interim report not later than 1 July 1997.
