Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 263: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans for the introduction of a no-fault compensation scheme for psychiatric service personnel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10681/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The report of the task force on assaults on psychiatric nurses was completed in 2003. In addition to quantifying the level of assaults and making recommendations on prevention, the report contained proposals for a scheme of compensation for psychiatric nurses who have been seriously injured as a result of an assault by a patient in the workplace.

Government approval would be required for the introduction of any new State compensation scheme, which would be additional to the existing serious physical assaults scheme, last revised in 2001. This scheme provides enhanced sick pay arrangements for nurses assaulted at work. Medical expenses are also refunded. In circumstances where a nurse is certifed permanently unfit to resume duty he or she may be paid five sixths of full salary until retirement.

In 2003 a draft memorandum for Government was circulated and during the consultation process, complex legal and financial issues emerged regarding aspects of the scheme proposed by the task force and their implications for the health service and the wider public service.

In March 2004 the Psychiatric Nurses Association and SIPTU were advised that serious concerns that had been raised about the proposed scheme. Officials from my Department have been in ongoing consultation with the Department of Finance and the office of the Attorney General, with a view to addressing the issues raised. The issues involved are very complex and have far reaching implications for the health service. I am in the process of consulting with my colleagues in Government on this issue and I expect to be in a position to provide more definite information shortly.