Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
449. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the policy in respect of type A full-time public service hospital consultants whereby salary for new recruits is €134.272 compared to €211,000 for pre-2012 staff; his views on whether this is a significant factor in the difficulties in recruitment; and the steps he will take to address this matter [32024/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Labour Relations Commission Agreement of 7th January 2015 substantially reversed the reductions made in the pay of new entrant consultants in September 2012. Pursuant to the Agreement, as set out in the 'Consolidated Salary Scales' applicable from 1st April, 2018, the maximum of a 9-point scale for new entrants recruited from 1 October 2012 is €185,884 compared with the maximum of a 6-point scale for those recruited prior to 1 October 2012 of €189,783. While the first point of the scales is set at €134,271, the scales include provision for incremental credit being granted up to the 6th point, having regard to experience and/or qualifications.
Arising from the recent settlement of legal proceedings by consultants in relation to pay increases provided for in the 2008 Consultants Contract, the maximum point of the scales for Type A consultants recruited prior to 1 October 2012 increases to €211,109. That increase is confined to consultants recruited prior to 1 October 2012.
Pay of consultants is one of a range of factors that impact on recruitment. However, the pay of consultants cannot be considered in isolation from other public servants. A number of processes are currently in train that encompass consultants pay:
- the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) provided a statutory roadmap for the unwinding of FEMPI. This includes a series of salary increases that will see public servants, including consultants, receiving on average a 7% increase over the lifetime of the agreement.
- the Public Service Pay Commission is to report this month on certain health sector grades, including consultants, where recruitment and retention issues have been identified, and
- new entrant pay across the whole public service is being reviewed through a process which is being led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Separate to pay considerations, the HSE has been focused on addressing issues associated with the creation and approval of consultant posts and successful recruitment. It is now giving effect to the report 'Towards Successful Consultant Recruitment, Appointment and Retention', completed in December 2016. It is also focused on implementing the recommendations of the 'MacCraith Group' to support the recruitment and retention of consultants and NCHDs.
Notwithstanding recruitment and retention challenges, the number of consultants has increased by 113 in the 12 months to end May 2018 to 2,997 (whole time equivalents); and by 479 in the past five years.
