Brendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 632: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are nurses wishing to avail of the incentivised retirement scheme who cannot do so as discussions are continuing between management and unions; when these discussions will come to fruition; her views on whether those applicants should have their lump sum entitlement calculated under current conditions regardless of when a final decision is made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39256/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The problems being experienced by the Health Service Executive and the unions with regard to the introduction of the incentivised scheme for early retirement have not yet been resolved. As you may be aware, members of all eligible grades who meet the criteria set down in Circular 8/2009 had access to the ISER provided the grades/staff groups concerned cooperate with the requirements in relation to redeployment, mobility, skill mix and flexibility which are outlined in the employment control framework: this is designed to allow individuals to avail of the ISER while still protecting services. Because staff who retire under the scheme will not be replaced (save in very exceptional cases), employers must pay particular attention, when considering applications, to the scope that exists within the organisation for reorganising and restructuring work in order to minimise the impact on essential service delivery. Staff cooperation and flexibility in that regard is essential.

My Department understands that the directive issued by the health service trade unions instructing their members not to cooperate with redeployment and reassignment requests from management is still in place. This instruction severely restricts the ability of management to organise/restructure work practice and contravenes the qualification criteria for the scheme. Therefore, HSE suspended the schemes including ISER from 18th June and this suspension continues. However, applications continued to be accepted by the relevant employer up to the closing date (23rd October) in anticipation of a resolution of the industrial relations issues. I have been informed that the HSE has had discussions with the health service unions regarding its policy on redeployment/reassignment and these discussions are ongoing.