Sorca Clarke
Question:246. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the rate of pay for personal assistants in each CHO area who work with disabled persons to ensure they live independent lives [31971/20]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 October 2020
246. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the rate of pay for personal assistants in each CHO area who work with disabled persons to ensure they live independent lives [31971/20]
View answer247. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if there is a standard hourly rate paid to agencies that employ personal assistants to work with disabled persons to ensure they live independent lives [31972/20]
View answer248. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a standardised rate of pay for all personal assistants employed to work with disabled persons in assisting them live independent lives. [31973/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 to 248, inclusive, together.
Much of the Personal Assistant (PA) service is delivered by Private Providers or Voluntary Service Providers funded under Section 39 of the Health Act. The rates these Providers pay their staff are not aligned to public pay scales; rather they relate to historical/legacy pay rates that the Providers have agreed with their staff. It is not within the remit of the Department of Health or Health Service Executive (HSE) to determine these pay rates.
The remainder of the PA service is provided by the HSE and under Section 38 of the Health Act. As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.