Mr. Kevin Figgis:

I thank the Deputy for the question. The HSE data advises us that, after nursing staff, support staff are the second highest category of staff who are assaulted in the workplace. We obviously have data in our submission not only in relation to support staff but also on the National Ambulance Service where, ultimately, crews are going out and meeting whatever is happening on the streets. That is not happening in an emergency department or whatever, and we have a significant level of direct physical assault on paramedics, etc.

The situation relating to the benefit piece is that there is a tiered system. This originates from the old system whereby we used to have officers, non-officers, etc. Support staff were classed as non-officers. We had the same situation in respect of superannuation and sick leave polices that have been standardised over the years. This has not been standardised, however, and that remains the case. The HSE data tells us that after three months, 41% of support staff who have been assaulted in the workplace are still unfit to return to work. By that point, what they are entitled to under the scheme has run out. Under the scheme, support staff get three months and medical staff, health professionals and clerical administration get six months. Nurses also get six months, but they can apply for two further extensions of three months each, bringing the total up to a year.

This means that a support worker, such as a healthcare assistant, who is assaulted in the same incident, by the same person, in which a nurse is assaulted would get up to three months of benefit, whereas the nursing colleague would get benefit for up to a year.