Louise O'Reilly
Question:756. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to award public health doctors the same status as hospital consultants and deliver an increase in their remuneration. [14156/20]
View answerTuesday, 7 July 2020
Questions (756, 824)
Robert Troy
Question:824. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations regarding public health consultant contracts. [14326/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 and 824 together.
My Department in conjunction with the HSE, and having engaged with key stakeholders, was in the process of finalising a new framework for public health prior to the onset of COVID-19. This body of work was to reflect the recommendations of the report reviewing the specialty undertaken by Crowe Horwath published in December 2018, and also the vision outlined for the specialty in Sláintecare and in the Report of Dr Scally on the National Screening Service ('CervicalCheck').
Prior to the issue of COVID-19 arising, it was envisaged that the finalisation of the design of the new service delivery model would be completed in the second half of 2020. Work on the model is now being resumed. It will be refined and validated having regard to COVID-19 and a strategic workforce plan developed and aligned to the new model.
Engagement with the IMO on the twin issues of consultant status and remuneration for public health specialists has been ongoing since January 2019 in tandem with the broader body of work. The Department and the HSE have indicated their support for consultant status in this engagement.
It is my intention that public health specialists will be awarded consultant status under the new framework and that their remuneration will be increased accordingly in return for significant structural and organisational reform within the Specialty.
It is noted that the FEMPI Acts currently prohibit pay increases for serving public servants and that this legislation will require amendment to enable pay increases for pubic health consultants and also serving 'new entrant consultants' taking up the Slaintecare 'public only' consultant contract.