Public sector pay rates are set centrally by Government and it is not the prerogative of any individual public sector agency to set such pay rates. Section 22(4)(a) of Health Act 2004 provides that the Executive shall determine the terms and conditions of employment (including terms and conditions in relation to remuneration and allowances) for employees appointed under this section, but my approval and the consent of the Minister for Finance are also required in this context. Professor Drumm was appointed to his post in August 2005. The change in numbers employed in the public health service (in wholetime equivalent terms) between 2005 and 2009 is detailed in the table below:
Numbers employed in the public health service 2005-2009
|
Grade category
|
31/12/2005
|
31/12/2006
|
31/12/2007
|
31/12/2008
|
31/10/2009
|
Change (WTE)
|
|
Medical/ Dental
|
7,266.44
|
7,712.38
|
8,005.00
|
8,109.48
|
8,121.54
|
855.10
|
|
Nursing
|
35,248.45
|
36,737.34
|
39,005.99
|
38,107.92
|
37,636.11
|
2,387.66
|
|
Health & Social Care Professionals
|
13,951.74
|
14,912.96
|
15,704.67
|
15,979.73
|
15,880.29
|
1,928.55
|
|
Management/ Admin
|
16,699.19
|
17,261.64
|
18,043.36
|
17,967.47
|
17,708.16
|
1,008.97
|
|
General Support Staff
|
13,226.56
|
12,909.81
|
12,899.83
|
12,630.55
|
11,998.60
|
-1,227.96
|
|
Other Patient & Client Care
|
15,585.75
|
16,738.58
|
17,846.03
|
18,230.15
|
18,724.72
|
3,138.97
|
|
Total
|
101,978.13
|
106,272.71
|
111,504.88
|
111,025.30
|
110,069.42
|
8,091.29
|
(1) Excludes Home Helps.
(2) Student nurses are included in the 2007 and 2008 employment ceilings on the basis of 3.5 students equating to 1 wholetime equivalent. The employment levels adjusted for student nurses on the above basis are 110,664 WTEs (Dec. 07) and 111,001 WTEs (Dec. 08).
The general round pay increases as a result of the relevant National Social Partnership agreements (Sustaining Progress, Towards 2016) which were implemented across the public service in that time were as follows:
|
Date
|
General Pay Round
|
% Increase
|
|
|
%
|
|
1/06/2005
|
SPII Phase 1
|
1.5
|
|
1/12/2005
|
SPII Phase 2
|
1.5
|
|
1/06/2006
|
SPII Phase 3
|
2.5
|
|
1/12/2006
|
T16 Phase 1
|
3.0
|
|
1/06/2007
|
T16 Phase 2
|
*2.0
|
|
1/03/2008
|
T16 Phase 3
|
2.5
|
|
1/09/2008
|
T16 Phase 4
|
2.5
|
*Except for those earning up to €400 per week where a 2.5 increase applied.
Queries regarding the number of upgradings that have arisen in the Executive during this period, the overall staff cost movements of the HSE in terms of annual percentage cost increases and how this compares with inflation and the general increases in the public service shown above, would be more properly addressed to the HSE directly. Accordingly, I have referred these parts of this question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
