Written answers

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Staff

11:00 pm

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views in respect of staff, consultants, agencies and so on and on the recent reported comments made by the chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive that they do not have control over salary levels in the HSE; the change in overall numbers in the HSE during the reign of the current CEO; the number of upgradings that have been given in the same period; the overall staff cost movements of the HSE in terms of annual percentage cost increases; the way it compared with inflation and the general increase in the public service and so on. [47411/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Public sector pay rates are set centrally by Government and it is not the prerogative of any individual public sector agency to set such pay rates. Section 22(4)(a) of Health Act 2004 provides that the Executive shall determine the terms and conditions of employment (including terms and conditions in relation to remuneration and allowances) for employees appointed under this section, but my approval and the consent of the Minister for Finance are also required in this context. Professor Drumm was appointed to his post in August 2005. The change in numbers employed in the public health service (in wholetime equivalent terms) between 2005 and 2009 is detailed in the table below:

Numbers employed in the public health service 2005-2009
Grade category31/12/200531/12/200631/12/200731/12/200831/10/2009Change (WTE)
Medical/ Dental7,266.447,712.388,005.008,109.488,121.54855.10
Nursing35,248.4536,737.3439,005.9938,107.9237,636.112,387.66
Health & Social Care Professionals13,951.7414,912.9615,704.6715,979.7315,880.291,928.55
Management/ Admin16,699.1917,261.6418,043.3617,967.4717,708.161,008.97
General Support Staff13,226.5612,909.8112,899.8312,630.5511,998.60-1,227.96
Other Patient & Client Care15,585.7516,738.5817,846.0318,230.1518,724.723,138.97
Total101,978.13106,272.71111,504.88111,025.30110,069.428,091.29
(1) Excludes Home Helps. (2) Student nurses are included in the 2007 and 2008 employment ceilings on the basis of 3.5 students equating to 1 wholetime equivalent. The employment levels adjusted for student nurses on the above basis are 110,664 WTEs (Dec 07) and 111,001 WTEs (Dec 08)

The general round pay increases as a result of the relevant National Social Partnership agreements (Sustaining Progress, Towards 2016) which were implemented across the public service in that time were as follows:

DateGeneral Pay Round% Increase
1/06/2005SPII Phase 11.5%
1/12/2005SPII Phase 21.5%
1/06/2006SPII Phase 32.5%
1/12/2006T16 Phase 13%
1/06/2007T16 Phase 22% (except for those earning up to €400 per week where a 2.5% increase applied)
1/03/2008T16 Phase 32.5%
1/09/2008T16 Phase 42.5%

Queries regarding the the number of upgradings that have arisen in the Executive during this period, the overall staff cost movements of the HSE in terms of annual percentage cost increases and how this compares with inflation and the general increases in the public service shown above, would be more properly addressed to the HSE directly. Accordingly, I have referred these parts of this question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

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