Health Service Staff.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 April 2007

Thursday, 5 April 2007

Questions (202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207)

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

197 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of employing one nurse, including pension benefits. [13774/07]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

198 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of employing one public health nurse, including pension benefits. [13775/07]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

199 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of employing one nursing assistant. [13776/07]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

200 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost to the State of employing one occupational therapist, including pension benefits. [13777/07]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

201 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost to the State of employing one physiotherapist, including pension benefits. [13778/07]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

202 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of employing one social worker, including pension benefits. [13779/07]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 202, inclusive, together.

The information provided in the tables below gives the cost of employing each grade specified by the Deputy for one year at current pay levels. The figures include basic pay plus employer PRSI. The mid-point of the salary scale for each grade has been used. Premium pay has also been included for a general staff nurse and the specialist qualification allowance for a public health nurse. The request for information on the cost of a nursing assistant has been assumed to mean a health care assistant. The pension cost expressed as a percentage of total lifetime pay cost assumes that staff join at 25 years and work full-time until retirement with 40 years service at age 65 and are female.

Mid-point Staff Nurse (General) Salary Scale effective 1/12/2006	Premium Pay @ 23%	Basic Pay + Premium Pay	Employers PRSI @ 10.75%	Basic Pay + Premium Pay + Employers PRSI	Annual % of gross pay required to be set aside to provide sufficient pension benefits after 40 years
€36,981	€8,506	€45,487	€4,890	€50,376	12.5%

It should be noted that nurses directly employed in certain specialist areas with specialist qualifications are paid an additional €2,741 per annum while a location payment to nurses engaged in particular duties is €1,825 per annum.

Mid-point Public Health Nurse Salary Scale effective 1/12/2006	Specialist Qualification Allowance	Basic Pay + Specialist Qualification Allowance	Employers PRSI @ 10.75%	Basic Pay + Specialist Qualification Allowance + Employers PRSI	Annual % of gross pay required to be set aside to provide sufficient pension benefits after 40 years
€49,224	€2,741	€51,965	€5,586	€57,551	14.5%

Mid-point Salary Scale Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist effective 1/12/2006	Employers PRSI @ 10.75%	Basic Pay + Employers PRSI	Annual % of gross pay required to be set aside to provide sufficient pension benefits after 40 years
€42,918	€4,614	€47,532	14.6%

Mid-point Salary Scale Social Worker (professionally qualified) effective 1/12/2006	Employers PRSI @ 10.75%	Basic Pay + Employers PRSI	Annual % of gross pay required to be set aside to provide sufficient pension benefits after 40 years
€49,141	€5,283	€54,424	14.6%

Mid-point Salary Scale Health Care Assistant effective 1/12/2006	Employers PRSI @ 10.75%	Basic Pay + Employers PRSI	Annual % of gross pay required to be set aside to provide sufficient pension benefits after 40 years
€30,067	€3,232	€33,299	9.2%