Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 December 2012
276. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an analysis of the €308 million of pay related savings in his Department's budget in 2013; and if he will set out the way such savings estimates were validated by his Department. [57390/12]
View answerA total of €308m in pay-related savings has been targeted for the health services in 2013. These savings will be achieved under three separate headings: firstly, by intensifying the implementation of the Public Service Agreement within the health services, secondly, through the negotiation of an agreement on further workplace change and savings with public sector unions, as has been proposed by Government, and thirdly, through further reductions in staffing in 2013.
Required measures under the PSA and included in the recently-revised sectorial plan for Health include new rosters in hospitals, changes in skill mix in nursing homes, the implementation of the recent agreement reached with Hospital Consultants, a significant reduction in overtime and agency spending and a reduction in management grades.
The Government has initiated discussions with the Trade Unions on a new agenda for improvements in the productivity of public servants and reductions in the cost of delivery of public services. Detailed engagement is expected to commence early in 2013, under the leadership of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Implementation of the PSA is overseen by the national-level Implementation Body. Each sector is required to provide periodic reports to the Implementation Body and this arrangement will continue in respect of measures to be implemented in 2013.
