Skip to main content
Normal View

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2018

Thursday, 29 November 2018

Questions (131)

Brendan Smith

Question:

131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) will be included in the pay restoration process in view of the urgent need to improve the remuneration for these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50029/18]

View answer

Written answers

As you know, in February 2018, an agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between the Department, the HSE and health sector Trade Unions in relation to a process aimed at resolving the pay restoration issue for staff employed by section 39 bodies in 50 pilot organisations. The 50 organisations which were included were agreed at the WRC.

Following a data gathering exercise and the compilation of an interim report in June, the parties attended for conciliation talks at the WRC in July 2018. Following a reconvening of talks, an agreement was reached on 2 October 2018 between the parties. For those employed by the 50 organisations involved in the pilot, the following will apply:

- Pay restoration will commence with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000 in April 2019

- 50% of the outstanding restoration due will be paid on 1 October 2020

- The remaining 50% will be paid on 1 October 2021

Based on the information available, it appears that almost 90% of these staff who received a pay cut will have on average, 75% of it restored in 2019.

The above payments will be made based on the following criteria:

- This is pay restoration and not pay progression

- The intention is to restore pay reductions made, no more

- Only the 50 organisations in the pilot are eligible at this time

- Payment will be subject to a verification and validation process

It will be important that the employers involved in the WRC process continue to give their full co-operation in relation to the on-going verification and validation process referred to above.

It is recognised that some of the remaining organisations will have pay restoration issues also. A process of engagement to address this will commence in 2019.

Top
Share