Vol. 576 No. 2
161 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the position with regard to the implementation of the compensation scheme agreed for psychiatric nurses assaulted at work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29377/03]
Following discussions with the Psychiatric Nurses' Association of Ireland and SIPTU, I established a task force in April 2002 to investigate the incidence of assaults on psychiatric nurses, with a view to exploring preventative measures to reduce the incidence 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 reported in April 2003.
The report deals with the causes and effects of violent acts in mental health services and makes a number of practical recommendations on preventing and minimising the incidence of assaults. The report also sets out the framework for a scheme of compensation for psychiatric nurses who have been seriously injured as a result of an assault in the workplace.
Officials from my Department have prepared 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 them shortly. Further consideration will then be given to progressing the recommendations contained in the report.
