Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the House.

It is often the case that the nature of a person's job changes over time and a re-evaluation process may be required to ensure fair remuneration and conditions for staff. Such an evaluation has been carried out in the health sector recently. However, while most workers received a recommendation of higher grades, it appears that some categories of employee were completely ignored. Those not recommended for any upgrade include cleaners, laundry workers, domestics, groundsmen and gardeners. Naturally, these staff feel they have been ignored by the process and are asking why. The evaluation was a joint exercise between the union and the employer using a pre-established formula from early phases. A report, including costs, was recently submitted to the Department of Health for review.It is now with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform awaiting sanction. None of the recommendations has been implemented to date as we await a response from the Department. As I outlined, the evaluation of support-staff grades was conducted and housekeeping-domestic staff were the only department not to move up a band. These staff are deeply disappointed by this decision. They feel undervalued and taken for granted and can see no logical explanation for this decision. They are disillusioned with the union, the communications process and the way the evaluation was completed and are now considering industrial action. They feel the whole job-evaluation process was flawed and ask the HSE to take immediate action to rectify the situation.

Hospitals cannot be run without housekeeping and domestic staff. They are vital members of the hospital team. They are a vital cog in the wheel who do difficult and demanding work. They worked through the pandemic in difficult circumstances and they are essential staff that simply cannot be done without. It would be deeply disappointing and disruptive to the hospital system if they felt the need to strike. I ask the Minister intervene on behalf of the hardworking and dedicated people affected by this.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator. I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister for Health. It is important to acknowledge the crucial work housekeeping staff carry out in our health service every day.

The job evaluation scheme is an assessment of the responsibilities and tasks undertaken by support staff across the health service. Under the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement, it was agreed that this job evaluation process would be conducted in four phases. Phase one commenced in 2017 and examined personnel employed in central sterile services departments, CSSD; endoscopy and laboratory aides and assistants; and the broader laboratory family and theatre group. Phase 2 comprised healthcare assistants and multi-task attendants. Phase 3 looked at home help and home care workers. The scheme is now in its fourth phase and is evaluating the work undertaken by household attendants, catering staff and porters, together with any remaining grades provided for under the existing scheme that were not evaluated in phases 1, 2 or 3.

The methodology for evaluating the roles during the different phases involved an examination of a cross-section of staff by role type in a number of agreed locations covering healthcare services in acute hospitals, care of the elderly facilities, mental health facilities, community and other relevant services. At the beginning of the job-evaluation process, the national monitoring group was established, comprising senior HSE and SIPTU officials. During phase 4 the national monitoring group held regular meetings to discuss and review progress. Both sides worked to identify employees in these roles who would be willing to participate in the review process. The phase 4 evaluation team consisted of four evaluators. The methodology for the evaluation process was agreed by the national monitoring group. Job holders completed questionnaires that were analysed by evaluators. Site visits took place and in-depth interviews were held. The evaluators' job was to determine the nature of the role; the skills and competencies required to undertake the role; the size and scope of the role; and the range of tasks, responsibilities and demands placed upon a suitably-qualified employee performing it. Upon completion of each job-specific interview, the evaluation team scored the job. This score determined the grade band the role should fall into. The job evaluation scheme was established to assess the work undertaken by staff and, subsequently, to determine whether any changes in their bands of pay were necessary based of the specific set of determiners. Depending on the number of points received, a particular grade may be recommended to move from one band to another. However, equally and without prejudice, the number of points received may also determine that a particular grade should remain on the same pay going forward. All recommendations made were evidence based and determined without prejudice. The phase 4 report is under consideration by the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for her response.

I said at the outset that these people - domestics, porters and other staff affected by this - are deeply disappointed that they have been overlooked. It is fair to say that many of these people are not on the highest grades to begin with.Many of them will be struggling financially, like many other people, to make ends meet. From a simple base, I find it difficult to understand how such an important cog in a wheel and such an important member of the hospital team has been left out. We can talk about methodology and all the rest until the cows come home but these people have been left behind. They put their shoulders to the wheel, as many other health professionals did, during the pandemic. Now, it would appear that through this process they are being forgotten. It is deeply unfair. I ask that the Government, the Minister for Health and others look at this again so that these people will be included, as they are entitled to be.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator. The Government acknowledges that current inflationary pressures present challenges and are a source of concern for public service workers. In acknowledgement of inflationary pressures and the rising cost of living, a review of the existing public service agreement, Building Momentum, was conducted this summer. This led to parties agreeing to an extension of the terms of Building Momentum by 12 months to 31 December 2023. As such, along with the pay increases due under the original agreement, public servants will also receive 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 higher, on 1 October 2023. These additional pay increases due under the extension to Building Momentum were cost-of-living measures to help public servants over the next number of years. The Government is keen that all pay rises due are paid to public and civil servants as soon as possible.

Regarding the job evaluation scheme, there was no guarantee from the beginning that all grades evaluated would receive an uplift. The recommendations under phase 4 of the scheme were made without prejudice based on a specific set of criteria and scoring methodology. It is important to remind the Senator that no sanction has yet been received on the findings of phase 4 of the job evaluation scheme and therefore no recommendations have been implemented. As this is an ongoing process, it would be inappropriate to advise further at this point.