Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They Deputy will be aware that there are two reviews on this. The first is the review by Professor Tom Collins, who has made a series of recommendations to address the period during Covid-19. I have accepted all those recommendations, including the option to backdate the payment to the start of September. There is an ongoing conversation with the representative bodies and unions with the aim of reaching an agreed settlement. I would very much like to implement that.

The second element is structural review to look at placements more broadly and address some of the real and serious questions that the Deputy, Senator Hoey and other committee members have raised today and previously.