Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
915. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that requests for the improvement of pay and conditions of all healthcare support staff are urgently addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19532/19]
View answerI expect that the Deputy is referring to the Job Evaluation scheme for support staff grades.
As part of the talks which took place under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, a chairman’s note was agreed by all parties on the reintroduction of a Job Evaluation Scheme in the Health Sector. This scheme had been discontinued in 2008. The note provided that all parties would agree on the scope and conduct of the scheme. SIPTU sought the introduction of the Job Evaluation scheme for the support grades along the same principles which operated in 2008.
This scheme for support grades was agreed in 2017; however, as recommended by the Health Sector Oversight body, the question of implementing the outcome of the scheme was to be considered by the parties at the conclusion of the exercise.
In October 2018, a report on the outcome of Phase 1 and 2 of the scheme was submitted to HSE management. The report has advised that all the grades examined, with the exception of the Multi Task Attendant, are due an upgrade. This would have significant cost implications. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has advised that the implementation of the outcome of the scheme will need to be considered in the context of the pay talks in relation to the successor to the current Public Service Stability Agreement.
