Health Services Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Questions (851)

Ciara Conway

Question:

851. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to issues faced by residential health care staff working on sleepover duty in view of the fact that some residential care staff are expected to work 63 hours per week instead of the statutory 48; the reasons for same; if sleepover duty, where a member of staff is on-call while working overnight is part of the working week and if it is treated as such for pay purposes; his further views on whether these hours are in breach of EU and Irish working time legislation; his views on the low levels of hourly pay associated with sleepover duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19288/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Haddington Road Agreement provides for a process of negotiation under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission in relation to this matter in respect of staff working in residential care settings. Following a referral to the Labour Court in early 2014, it was agreed that the matter should be referred back to the Labour Relations Commission for completion of discussions by 31 May 2014. This series of meetings has recently commenced and involves my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, Service Providers and the Trade Unions representing the employees.