Written Answers Nos. 402-410
402. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the recent pause on recruitment includes home care workers (home support); if so, if he will intervene to allow the HSE in CHO4 replace the 189 health care assistants (home support) that have retired or resigned in the period January to end September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7337/24]
View answerAs recruitment is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
403. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if the temporary scheme of special leave with pay for healthcare workers with long-Covid will be extended past March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7354/24]
View answerThe temporary Special Scheme will conclude as planned on the 31st March 2024. Any employee on the Scheme at that date who remains unwell may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme thereafter as necessary.
404. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the plans for a facility (details supplied) when it is vacated by patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7395/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
405. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to a previous a Parliamentary Question if he will provide an update on the provision of a primary care centre in New Ross, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7409/24]
View answer406. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to provide improved contracts, redress, employment conditions and pensions for adult education teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7119/24]
View answerFinalising the outstanding pay claim for tutors is of the utmost priority for me and my Department.
A proposal issued to staff representatives last year to establish a new grade of adult educator, with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach Resource person scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs to deliver FET programmes, who are currently employed under a variety of terms and conditions. The provision of a pay scale will allow for incremental progression and a career path for Tutors in the further education and training sector.
This proposal follows the introduction of a consistent formula for awarding Contracts of Indefinite Duration across ETBs in 2017 and the provision of access to leave schemes, paid leave and access to the appropriate public sector pension scheme in 2019.
The implementation of the proposal has been the subject of further negotiations with staff representatives. A key issue raised related to incremental progression. My Department and the Department of Education, which has regulatory responsibility for the ETB sector, have submitted an updated proposal to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. The award of Building Momentum increases due to those tutors on SOLAS-funded programmes who are paid on self-financing rates will also be addressed as part of this process. Officials are engaging on the updated proposal and it is hoped to conclude this matter at the earliest opportunity.
Each of the over 2,800 tutors employed across the ETBs will have the option to avail of the new arrangements and assimilate on to the proposed new adult educator pay scale or remain on his or her existing arrangements.
407. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will give detailed consideration to all the issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7129/24]
View answerFinalising the outstanding pay claim for tutors is of the utmost priority for me and my Department.
A proposal issued to staff representatives last year to establish a new grade of adult educator, with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach Resource person scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs to deliver FET programmes, who are currently employed under a variety of terms and conditions. The provision of a pay scale will allow for incremental progression and a career path for Tutors in the further education and training sector.
This proposal follows the earlier Labour Court recommendation that the official side make an offer on the issue of a pay scale alignment, while accepting that any offer could not, having regard to the contrasting nature of the roles, qualification, flexibility and regulatory frameworks, involve an alignment with the teacher scale.
The implementation of the proposal has been the subject of further negotiations with staff representatives. A key issue raised related to incremental progression. My Department and the Department of Education, which has regulatory responsibility for the ETB sector, have submitted an updated proposal to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. The award of Building Momentum increases due to those tutors on SOLAS-funded programmes who are paid on self-financing rates will also be addressed as part of this process. Officials are engaging on the updated proposal and it is hoped to conclude this matter at the earliest opportunity.
Each of the over 2,800 tutors employed across the ETBs will have the option to avail of the new arrangements and assimilate on to the proposed new adult educator pay scale or remain on his or her existing arrangements.
408. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will offer adult education tutors parity with their post-primary colleagues doing the same work and a contract that truly reflects their professionalism and dedication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7211/24]
View answerFinalising the outstanding pay claim for tutors is of the utmost priority for me and my Department.
A proposal issued to staff representatives last year to establish a new grade of adult educator, with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach Resource person scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs to deliver further education and training (FET) programmes. This proposal follows the earlier Labour Court recommendation that the official side make an offer on the issue of a pay scale alignment, while accepting that any offer could not, having regard to the contrasting nature of the roles, qualification, flexibility and regulatory frameworks, involve an alignment with the teacher scale.
The implementation of the proposal has been the subject of further negotiations with staff representatives and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. The award of Building Momentum increases due to those tutors on SOLAS funded programmes who are paid on self-financing rates will also be addressed as part of this process. Officials are engaging on the updated proposal and it is hoped to conclude this matter at the earliest opportunity.
Each of the over 2,800 tutors employed across the ETBs will have the option to avail of the new arrangements and assimilate on to the proposed new adult educator pay scale or remain on his or her existing arrangements.
409. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to confirm that Ireland has amongst the worst drowning rates in Europe; whether she intends to remedy this by increasing the number of lifeguards employed, ensuring proper training of all lifeguards, extending the months of the year that lifeguards are employed to cover the whole year, and by providing all lifeguards with the necessary equipment, such as radios, all-terrain vehicles and defibrillators, in line with European best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7110/24]
View answerWater Safety Ireland (WSI) is the statutory, voluntary body and registered charity established to promote water safety and reduce drownings in Ireland. WSI’s remit includes public awareness and education. It strives to reduce drownings further by changing attitudes and behaviours so that our aquatic environments can be enjoyed by all with confidence and safety.
WSI has statutory responsibility for the promotion of public awareness of water safety; advancement of education related to the prevention of accidents in water; instruction in water safety; and the establishment of national standards for lifeguards.
In 2023 I launched WSI’s Strategic Development Plan 2023-2027. Goal 5, with its four corresponding objectives, specifically focuses on lifeguarding, both beach and pool.
However, while WSI is an independent body under the aegis of my Department, the employment of lifeguards and equipment provided is a matter for the relevant local authority under the Local Government Acts. Neither my Department nor Water Safety Ireland have a remit in respect of local government employment or equipment provided for local government services.
410. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will support an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7130/24]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
The fifth call for Category 1 applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed on the 8 February, and I can confirm that an application has been received from the organisation referenced by the Deputy.
The application process for Category 1 proposals is highly competitive in nature. All applications will be considered on merit by my Department in line with published eligibility criteria, guidelines and under the oversight of a Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts.
Once the assessment process is complete, my Department will prepare a report setting out recommended projects. My role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding.
I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects in the coming months.
