Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 1993

Vol. 436 No. 4

Written Answers. - Psychologists' Pay Claim.

Robert Molloy

Ceist:

213 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Health if he has received a letter from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2 about inaccurate and misleading information being given to public representatives by his Department regarding pay increases given to psychologists employed by the Department of Education which should have automatically applied to psychologists employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

My Department has not issued inaccurate or misleading information to public representatives on the question of the health board psychologists' pay claim.

The general background to this issue has been dealt with at length and in great detail in this House in recent weeks in both Adjournment Debates and parliamentary questions. There is a long and complex history of pay relationships between psychologists employed by health boards and psychologists working in the Department of Education. Arbitration Report (No. 132) issued in July 1988 did establish a pay link between both groups at that time. However, in the absence of a claim from psychologists for either maintaining or breaking a pay relationship with any other group, health service management could not simply automatically adjust the pay of psychologists.

The responsibility for monitoring and advancing the pay position of any group rests with the people concerned and their trade union representatives. Health board psychologists did not lodge a claim for an increase in pay and restoration of relationships with the relevant Department of Education grades until 1992 and that claim is being processed through the normal industrial relations channels. An offer has already been made to the psychologists restoring the relationship with Department of Education psychologists from 1 January 1994. This offer was rejected on the basis that the effective date was unacceptable. A third party adjudication hearing took place on this remaining issue on Monday 22 November 1993 and it is expected that the arbitrator's findings will be made available within a matter of weeks.