Mr. Andy Pike:

We wanted to start with the minimum essential qualification. We have made a lot of progress with that. The committee will hear from the Department in the next session, but it was a priority to get the qualification up to QQI level 6. To be honest, it could have gone to level 7 or above but, from where it is now, an appropriate step is to QQI level 6. We will then see what the future holds. We wanted to address precarious employment, so the redeployment arrangements were critical. We also want a new dispensation to replace the 72 hours that are based on continuing professional development, CPD. That requires a training, learning and development framework that the Department is working on.

The role of the SNA is also under review. We are working towards redefining the role, to an extent, in a new circular. That will not necessarily change the reality of what SNAs do, but perhaps it is time we think to do things like acknowledge the fact they support learning and development. It is not just care needs. If we can get that into a circular-----