Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the campaign by representatives of persons employed as nurse attendants for a change in their job title and for increased pay; if progress has been made to meet their demands since he previously answered questions on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35698/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department arranges sessions at various centres around the country to assess or review the medical condition of people who are claiming a payment from my Department in respect of illness. These sessions are conducted by the Department's medical assessors and a nurse attendant is always present during the examinations. With the exception of a small number of nurse attendants, the majority of those serving in the grade have to date been employed on a sessional basis under a contract for services and as such are not employees of my Department.

Following full consideration by my Department and the Department of Finance of a claim by SIPTU, it has been agreed that each person serving as a sessional nurse attendant will be offered a contract of employment with my Department. The contract being offered incorporates an agreed increased salary scale for the nurse attendant grade, including those already employed by the Department.

The agreed arrangements, including the increased salary scale, are in the process of being implemented. I am satisfied, on the basis of the duties of the post, that the title of nurse attendant is appropriate to the grade.