Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 179: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason it takes 21 years for a qualified nurse to reach parity of pay with childcare workers; if she will instruct the Health Service Executive to honour Labour Court commitments given as far back as 1980 which recommended that nursing staff work no longer than a 35 hour week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23556/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association are pursuing a number of claims in respect of the pay and conditions of nurses. These include claims seeking a reduction in hours from 39 to 35 per week and a pay increase relative to the pay of the social care worker grade (formerly known as child care workers).

There is no pay relationship between nurses and social care workers. Social care workers are employed in intellectual disability and childcare services in a variety of community and residential settings including High Support Centres. The pay of nurses was determined by the Public Service Benchmarking Body which established new absolute levels of pay for each benchmarked grade and confirmed that no benchmarked grade may receive a further increase as a consequence of the Body's recommendations as they affect any other grade.

In relation to the claim for a 35 hour working week in return for 39 hours pay, it should be noted that a reduction in the hours worked by nurses would have a significant adverse impact on the delivery of care to patients. It is estimated that an additional 4,000 nurses at a cost of €200 million per annum would be required to maintain existing services should this claim be conceded.

These two claims from the nursing unions will be heard by the Labour Court on 20 June.