Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
606. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of recommendation No. 7 of the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants; if he will consider establishing a joint labour committee to cover the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6581/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing the shortage of care workers in Ireland is an urgent priority. In March 2022, I established the cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants. It set out to examine the challenges in frontline carer roles in the home support and long-term residential care sectors.
The report was published on 15 October 2022: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/492bc-report-of-the-strategic-workforce-advisory-group-on-home-carers-and-nursing-home-health-care-assistants/I.
Implementation of the 16 recommendations is underway and overseen by a cross-departmental group, chaired by the Department of Health. The group meets quarterly and publishes progress reports thereafter. The group met on 1 February 2024 and a progress report will be published shortly. The most recent progress report was published in October 2023 which can be viewed at: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/275876/c0889fbf-3f9c-4235-9e79-e1240790fac7.pdf#page=null.
Internal engagement within the Department of Health has been undertaken regarding recommendation 7: An appropriate mechanism to reach agreement in the private and voluntary sector in respect of pay and pensions for home support workers and healthcare assistants shall be investigated and reported on by an Expert Working Group.
This recommendation cannot be progressed further until the process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations has concluded. A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations is underway. Officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; the Department of Health; the HSE; and Tusla, were invited to attend a Workplace Relations Commission process (16 October 2023) following similar engagements with trade unions representing section 39 and section 56 bodies over recent months. The process culminated in an offer being made to the trade unions. The Departments have committed to a significant increase of investment in the sector relating to pay amounting to an 8% increase, phased as:
• 3% from 1 April 2023
• Additional 2% from 1 November 2023
• And further 3% from 1 March 2024.
Departments have committed to return to the WRC for further talks when the new Public Service pay agreement has been ratified. The ballot is to take place in March. As this is an ongoing industrial relations issue it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.
The Departments are currently working closely with the HSE to ensure funding for organisations is made as soon as possible and provision has been made for this funding for both retrospective pay for 2023 and for 2024.
While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that organisations receiving service arrangement funding under section 39 are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
