Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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444. To ask the Minister for Health the basis upon which the new home help contracts were implemented in 2014 without full consultation or agreement with the home helps; his views on the cuts in hours, banking of hours, elimination of overtime and the loss of 12 days' pay as a result of the lengthening of the time worked in lieu by an extra two weeks. [10482/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In line with a Labour Court recommendation in 2013 home help workers directly employed by the HSE were issued with new contracts from 1 April 2014. The new contracts, which issued pursuant to engagement with the staff unions, provide each home help with guaranteed hours each week. This is a positive development for HSE employed home helps. The new contracts did not involve any adjustments to the hourly rates of pay.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the other matters raised. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.