Batt O'Keeffe
Question:257 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to extend the Garda compensation scheme to psychiatric nurses. [28383/03]
Written Answers. - Compensation Scheme.
The Garda Síochána compensation scheme is a statutory scheme laid down in the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 1941, as amended by the Garda Síochána (Compensation) (Amendment) Act 1945, and is exclusive to members of the Garda Síochána and their dependants. There are no plans to extend this scheme to psychiatric nurses.
Following discussions with the Psychiatric Nurses Association and SIPTU, I established a task force to investigate the incidence of assaults on psychiatric nurses with a view to exploring preventative measures to reduce the incidences of such assaults, and as a practical measure, where such assaults have resulted in serious physical and psychological injury, to provide for a compensation scheme for nurses working in the mental health services.
The task force was chaired by Mr. Tom McGrath, former deputy chairman of the Labour Court. Membership of the task force included representatives of the relevant nursing unions, PNA and SIPTU, the Health Service Employers Agency, the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Finance. The task force reported in April 2003.
I met representatives of the Psychiatric Nurses Association on 24 September 2003. Among the issues discussed was the report of the task force on assaults on psychiatric nurses and in particular the proposal that a scheme be established to compensate psychiatric nurses seriously injured as a result of assault by a patient.
I informed the PNA that my officials were preparing a memorandum for Government on the recommendations contained in the report. This draft memorandum has recently been circulated to other Departments for their observations. I expect to receive comments from other Departments shortly. Further consideration will then be given to progressing the recommendations contained in the report.