Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - Nurses' Remuneration.

Richard Bruton

Question:

345 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has given consideration to the introduction of a Dublin weight of payment for nurses who work in acute hospitals and other medical facilities in the Dublin area; if he has had discussions with nurses' unions to look at the potential of such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29835/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

In September 2002 the Alliance of Nursing Unions referred a claim for a Dublin weighting allowance to the Labour Relations Commission. The claim was discussed between management and union representatives on 3 December 2002 but no agreement was reached. The matter, along with claims for a 35 hour week and increased shift premiums, was referred to a full hearing of the Labour Court.

The Labour Court hearing was held on 20 May. Management argued that the claim had been considered by the Public Service Benchmarking Body and that a weighting allowance of €3,000 per annum was a cost increasing claim. Therefore, it was precluded under the stabilisation clause of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

The claim for the introduction of a weighting allowance for nurses could not be looked at in isolation from the position of other public servants in the Dublin region. It is estimated that there are approximately 88,000 public servants employed in the Dublin region. The costs of conceding the claim for a Dublin weighting allowance would cost an extra €102 million per annum if conceded to all health service employees in the ERHA. A further cost of €162 million would result if applied to the wider public service in Dublin.

The Labour Court issued its recommendation on 18 June. It took the view that the benchmarking body had considered submissions on the issue of Dublin weighting allowances for nurses and had taken them into account when making its judgment. It was accepted by the parties to the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness that the only means of addressing claims was through the benchmarking process and that claims would be dealt with solely within that context. Given the court's judgment that the benchmarking body considered the submissions made on the Dublin weighting allowance, the court did not recommend concession of the unions' claim.