Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Labour)

As the Minister of State is aware, thousands of HSE staff are facing delays in the payment of travel and subsistence expenses that were due to be paid before Christmas. Staff across the HSE were advised last night that as part of the HSE's efforts to save €15 million before the end of the year, they will not receive their travel and subsistence payments for October and November until the new year. The Minister of State will appreciate that workers are angry about this plan and have criticised the HSE strongly. In effect, workers are being forced to bankroll or subsidise the HSE for the delivery of public services. I welcome the public statement made by the Minister, Deputy Reilly, on "Prime Time" last night. He categorically stated that the budget should not be used an opportunity to take money from people's pockets. He said the HSE should honour its contractual arrangements to pay suppliers and its own staff.

I am concerned about the tone of the letter that was sent to HSE staff and the language that was used in it. The HSE said in the letter that it intends to defer some of its costs by delaying these payments until 2012 "at the earliest". It is important for the Minister of State to be aware of the anxiety that exists among people. Many rural Deputies, in particular, have been advised that there is great concern about the delivery of primary, community and continuing care services in rural Ireland. Those providing home help services and public health nurses are among those who are banking on the payment of these allowances to ensure they can make their mortgage payments for December or put food on the table for their children this Christmas. I ask the Minister of State to intervene immediately so we can advise these concerned people of the response of the HSE.

See this speech in context