Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 4

Written Answers. - Physiotherapists' Salaries.

Noel Davern

Question:

57 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Health his views on the top of the basic scale of pay for chartered physiotherapists; his views on whether their current rate of pay is comparable to other paramedic professions with the same level of graduate training; if their claim for equality of pay comparable with other graduate health care professionals will be taken into consideration by the Health Service Employers Agency during the current pay negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11189/97]

Ivor Callely

Question:

73 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the status of the occupational therapists' pay negotiations in respect of a fair and fast resolution of the current dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11404/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I wish to take Questions Nos. 57 and 73 together.

Physiotherapists and occupational therapists similar to all other paramedical professions, have benefited in full from all standard and special pay awards under the various national pay programmes over the last number of years. The relative position of these professions, in terms of remuneration, has been maintained with those of their colleagues in other paramedical disciplines.

IMPACT, on behalf of these professions, has been pursuing a pay claim under Clause 2 (iii) — Annex 1 of theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work. These negotiations are complex and are being handled by the Health Service Employers' Agency.

A conciliation hearing at the Labour Relations Commission on Thursday, 17 April 1997 was not successful and IMPACT opted to commence strike action among several of the paramedical professions — including physiotherapists and occupational therapists — with effect from Monday, 21 April 1997. A further conciliation hearing was held at the Labour Relations Commission on Friday, 25 April 1997 following which the matter was referred to the Labour Court for hearing yesterday, Monday, 28 April 1997.

In these circumstances, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment at present other than to say that every effort is being made to resolve this dispute as speedily as possible.