Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise with the Minister of State the issue of the housekeeping attendance in Cork University Hospital. The pay scale of a number of positions in the hospital have been reviewed. They will see increases in the new year and I welcome that. However, housekeepers are to be excluded from this increase. This is despite Cork University Hospital’s providing housekeeping services 24-7. They are long, hard shifts, often in overcrowded wards where they are surrounded by infectious diseases.

Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, hospitals like Cork University Hospital were kept safe and open thanks to the Trojan work done by these housekeepers and many others. They rose to the challenge during the pandemic when the State and the people needed them most. Even the Minister for Health at the time, Deputy Harris, highlighted the important work of hospital housekeepers when he tweeted, “You are on the frontline and your work is crucial in our national effort against the #coronavirus”.

Covid-19 gave us a valuable insight into the role of those working in hospitals, from porters to kitchen staff to housekeepers, all of whom are essential workers. We value these people and I have no doubt that the Minister of State clapped for them. Yet, rounds of applause do not pay bills. They do not pay people’s rent, mortgage, put fuel in their cars or put food on their tables.

In an article in theIrish Examinerat the height of the pandemic, a housekeeper in Cork University Hospital detailed the work being done within the hospital. Many of these tasks are still being done today post-pandemic. Many of these tasks still need to be done. The levels of cleaning and infection control remain higher than they had been before. We have learned a lot from Covid-19 and many of the lessons are here to stay because they are dealing with Covid-19, MRSA and other infectious diseases. This extra work being done places a heavier burden on the housekeepers who are expected to follow new protocols and to work to a new standard.

That should be reflected in their pay. Unfortunately, the process has concluded, but I ask the Minister of State to include a new pay scale for housekeepers. Let the Trojan essential work that they are doing in hospitals be reflected in their pay.

The problem is that these housekeepers feel undervalued, underpaid and let down. I have spoken to the workers. They are devastated by this decision and are looking for help and support. When the State needed help and support, they were there. Today, a lady told me that, during our darkest hour at the height of the pandemic, housekeepers brought trolleys around to every room to feed patients because hospitals were trying to isolate people and reduce the risk of transmission. Housekeepers have also told me of how they had to go into rooms during the height of the pandemic and try to sterilise them so that more patients could be brought in.

These are decent people. We are talking about 200 workers, who have asked me to bring their case to the Minister of State. I hope she will look on it positively.

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