Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I am keen to respond as accurately as I can with the knowledge available to me at this time.

It is important to note that any adjustment to pay scales for any public service staff, including housekeeping staff in Cork University Hospital, CUH, can only be done in accordance with public service pay policy. While the need for a review of pay scales is being raised by the Deputy, Department officials are not aware of any outstanding claim in respect of the pay of housekeeping staff in CUH or a corresponding collective claim relating to their pay scales. Under the dispute resolution procedure set out in the current public service agreement, Building Momentum, a minimum six-week period of initial bilateral engagement between the parties to a dispute must take place at a local level. If this is unsuccessful, the issue can be considered by the relevant sectoral oversight body or equivalent forum before processing through the various industrial relations machinery of the State.

Departmental officials have confirmed that this matter has not been raised at the health sector oversight body or any other national industrial relations forum to date. Therefore, I cannot comment on this matter in terms of it being an outstanding claim. I can only engage on the matter from a general pay policy perspective.

Building Momentum was originally to run from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022. In acknowledgment of the changes to the underlying assumptions of the agreement in respect of inflation, however, a review of Building Momentum was conducted this summer in accordance with section 5.7 of the agreement. This led to the parties agreeing to an extension of the terms of Building Momentum by 12 months to 31 December 2023.

The original agreement involved two general round pay increases of 1%, which were due on 1 October 2021 and 1 October 2022, along with an additional sectoral bargaining fund to deal with outstanding claims. The extension of Building Momentum has allowed for a further increase in basic salaries of 3%, backdated to 2 February 2022, an increase of 2% from 1 March 2023, and an increase of 1.5% or €750, whichever is the higher, on 1 October 2023. All public servants are entitled to all general round increases, and housekeeping staff will receive them alongside their other public service colleagues.

Regarding addressing any claim relating to pay scales, sectoral bargaining was the only mechanism through which any claim could be progressed within the lifetime of Building Momentum. I am aware that the matter the Deputy has raised may relate to the current job evaluation scheme for support staff, which has been completed by the HSE. This scheme is in its fourth phase and the outcome of the evaluation may impact housekeeping staff, including staff at CUH. The report on the scheme has been shared with the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform for consideration. Once the HSE receives sanction, it will issue a circular for implementation.

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