Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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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.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State. I recognise her point about the general round of pay increases. She touched on the main issue, that of the job evaluation scheme, which is the least fair aspect. These workers feel that the evaluation has not been fair on them and their work. We all accept that they are front-line workers. They are continuing to do the work they did during the pandemic. For many people, we are in a different place where Covid-19 is concerned, but people working in a hospital, especially in housekeeping, and disinfecting and cleaning rooms, are still doing the same job they did during the height of the pandemic.

Another concern occurred to me when I looked into this matter. Housekeeping staff are being told that, if they move to a different position, they will qualify for the pay increase under the new evaluation scheme. Will this lead to a privatisation or contracting out of housekeeping work once the staff have moved to new roles? I am seeking an assurance from the Minister of State. Staff should not have to move to new roles - that is unfair - but if grocery inflation is, according to RTÉ tonight, running at 13.4% and general inflation is running at 9%, a worker who sees a pay increase elsewhere will feel pressurised into moving roles. That is not right. These workers need and deserve a pay increase. If possible, will the Minister of State look into this matter under the evaluation scheme and will she guarantee that these jobs will not be privatised in the long run?

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I will bring the Deputy's two final points to the Minister for his attention. According to the concluding statement that the Minister has provided, grades that fall into the HSE's support staff category, such as housekeeping staff, have seen an overall increase of between 10.25% and 11.5% in the past four years alone, depending on their point on the scale. These increases have been as a result of the adjustments agreed via public service agreements, including the current public service agreement, Building Momentum. Further increases for these grades have been agreed as part of the extension to the public service agreement, as previously advised. The Department of Health and the HSE are bound by the existing pay agreement, which clearly states that sectoral bargaining is the only mechanism for addressing outstanding claims within the lifetime of the agreement.

If a claim relating to this pay scale exists, I advise the relevant representative bodies to raise it at the appropriate national industrial relations forums and through the necessary local engagement, if that has not already occurred. The matter can progress through the relevant conflict resolution processes.

I will bring both of the Deputy's suggestions to the Minister.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State.