Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 625: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff in her Department currently earning the national minimum wage; the number of staff in her Department currently earning not more than one euro per hour more than the minimum wage; the number of staff in her Department's agencies currently earning the national minimum wage; the number of staff in her Department's agencies currently earning not more than one euro per hour more than the minimum wage; the number of staff who are employed by contractors to her Department currently earning the national minimum wage; the number employed by contractors of her Department currently earning not more than one euro per hour more than the minimum wage; the number of staff in her Department currently earning less than the national minimum wage, including those earning the sub-minimum wage as defined by Sections 15 and 16 of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000; the number of staff in her Department's agencies currently earning less than the national minimum wage, including those earning the sub-minimum wage as defined by Sections 15 and 16 of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000; the number of staff who are employed by contractors to her Department currently earning less than the national minimum wage, including those earning the sub-minimum wage as defined by Sections 15 and 16 of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43758/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There are no staff in my Department currently earning the National Minimum Wage i.e. €8.30 per hour or lower. There are also no staff currently earning less than €1.00 per hour more than the National Minimum Wage i.e. €9.30 per hour.

The position regarding staff employed by companies providing services for my Department was examined last year following a specific request on the matter from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. The companies concerned gave me written assurance that they comply with all the statutory terms and conditions of employment in respect of their staff and I am satisfied with the current situation. In relation to payments above the statutory terms this would be a matter for the companies concerned.

There are no staff in my Department's agencies (excluding the Health Service Executive) currently earning the National Minimum Wage or lower. There are also no staff in my Department's agencies (excluding the Health Service Executive) currently earning less than €1.00 per hour more than the National Minimum Wage.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy in relation to its employees. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.