John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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459. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to recognise those employees who are categorised as sessional workers, but have long-service records with the Health Service Executive, in respect of sick pay superannuation and other social entitlements; the number of persons in this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8028/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales, as sanctioned by the Minister for Health, set out the salaries for public health service staff. These salary scales must be strictly adhered to and in no circumstances should an employee receive remuneration in the nature of pay and allowances of an amount greater than the amount prescribed.

In the first instance, sessional rates were intended for payment to self employed individuals providing a part-time or temporary service to the HSE. The HSE have advised that there are currently 380 individuals in receipt of sessional rates of pay. However, my Department is aware that certain individuals in receipt of sessional rates of pay are employees even though sessional rates of pay were never sanctioned for payment to employees (under contracts of service) and has requested the HSE to regularise these employees to ensure compliance with the Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales.

Each individual case must be examined by the HSE to determine whether the individual meets the criteria for employee status as opposed to being a self employed contractor.