Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2009
110 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the incentivised career break scheme in the Health Service Executive; the eligibility criteria for the scheme; if there are any restrictions to the scheme; the closing date for applications; the number of persons who have inquired; the number of persons who have applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39912/09]
View answer111 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the shorter working year scheme in the Health Service Executive; the eligibility criteria for the scheme; if there are any restrictions to the scheme; the closing date for applications; the number of persons who have inquired; the number of persons who have applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39913/09]
View answer112 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the incentivised scheme for early retirement in the Health Service Executive and her Department; if there are any restrictions to the scheme; the closing date for applications; the number of persons who have inquired; the number of persons who have applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39914/09]
View answer113 Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost and cost per person of the incentivised scheme for early retirement, the incentivised career break scheme and the shorter working year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39915/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 110 to 113, inclusive, together.
In his Supplementary Budget Statement of 7 April 2009, the Minister for Finance announced that he would make available three schemes to reduce the number of public sector employees in the wider public sector. My Department issued a suite of three circulars to the HSE on 15 May 2009 to give effect to this measure in the public health sector; the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (8/2009); the Incentivised Career Break Scheme (Circular 9/2009); and the Shorter Working Year (10/2009).
The purpose of these circulars is to facilitate a permanent, structural reduction in the numbers of staff employed, along with an associated restructuring of organisation and operations, in as timely a manner as possible and in line with the 2009 Employment Control Framework for the Public Health Sector. While the reduction in numbers achieved under these schemes is intended to contribute significant and ongoing savings to the Exchequer, this must be done in a way that does not undermine essential service provision. The schemes do not apply, therefore, to grades exempted from the moratorium on recruitment and promotions under the 2009 Employment Control Framework for the Public Health Sector in order to meet the requirements of integrated health care delivery and, in particular, to address needs in the community in respect of care of the elderly and people with disabilities.
Members of all other grades who meet the eligibility criteria will have access to these schemes provided the grades/staff groups concerned cooperate with the requirements in relation to redeployment, mobility, skill mix and flexibility which are outlined in the employment control framework. This is designed to allow individuals to avail of these schemes while still protecting services. Because staff who avail of these schemes will not be replaced (save in very exceptional cases), employers must pay particular attention, when considering applications, to the scope that exists within the organisation for reorganising and restructuring work in order to minimise the impact on essential service delivery. Staff cooperation and flexibility in that regard is essential.
My Department was informed that the health service trade unions issued a directive instructing their members not to cooperate with redeployment and reassignment requests from management. The unions have stated their opposition to the moratorium on recruitment and promotions as set out in 2009 Employment Control Framework for the Public Health Sector, referred to above. This instruction from the unions severely restricts the ability of management to organise/restructure work practice and contravenes the qualification criteria for these schemes. As a result, the HSE suspended all three schemes on 18 June and the suspension remains in place. One person in the public health sector had been approved to exit the system under the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement by that date and the cost of the 10% lump sum paid was €2,307 with an annual pension payable of €11,102 per annum.
The closing date for applications for the Special Incentive Career Break Scheme was 30 July 2009 and 23 October 2009 for the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement, while there is no closing date for applications for the Shorter Working Year Scheme. I understand that applications continued to be accepted by the relevant employer, pending resolution of the outstanding industrial relations issues. I have been informed that the HSE has had discussions with the health service unions regarding its policy on redeployment/reassignment and these discussions are ongoing.
The HSE have provided the following data in relation to the applications received in respect of the three schemes as at 25 September 2009:
|
Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement |
Special Incentive Career Break Scheme |
Shorter Working Year Scheme |
|
|
Total Number of Applicants |
305 |
329 |
39 |
I am informed by the HSE that information regarding the number of enquiries received in relation to these schemes is not available.
