John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue for debate. Had the HSE agreed and implemented what it said it would do there would be no need for me to raise this particular issue. I have discussed it with numerous staff in Kerry, and the issue relates in particular to the Cork and Kerry region where little or no progress has been made on implementation of the agreement.

As part of the agreement, from now on home help workers will be referred to as healthcare support assistants. On 1 October, I asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of new contracts to HSE home help staff, the timeline for completion and whether he is satisfied with the progress on it. I received a very comprehensive reply. I was told the contracts for home help staff are being rolled out, rostering arrangements will be put in place and the work will be completed by March 2019. I remind the Minister of State the agreement was put in place under the auspices of the WRC through engagement between SIPTU and the HSE. The key provisions of the arrangements are that there will be an increase in contracted hours for more than 90% of the home support staff if they choose to accept the HSE's offer, there will be a change in title from home help worker to healthcare support assistants to better reflect the nature of the service being provided, rostered arrangements will be introduced to give staff greater certainty regarding their hours of attendance, with travel time factored into these arrangements, and there will be an assignment of work bases.

Unfortunately, as of last week, little or no progress had been made, which forced the union to ballot staff members on strike action and an overwhelming majority of members voted in favour. I understand some progress was made late last week on foot of this and further commitments have been made. I understand the strike action has been put on hold subject to last Friday's agreement being implemented.

There has been some progress throughout the country but not enough. As I represent the Kerry region, and this reflects specifically the Cork and Kerry region, I ask the Minister of State to give me a commitment for once and for all that the WRC agreement will be implemented in full and the outstanding issues will be resolved, which will give healthcare support assistants the necessary terms and conditions they deserve. As the Minister of State knows, they provide an invaluable service in their communities and without them the already strained healthcare system would be further undermined.

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