Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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249. To ask the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Service Executive to engage with representatives of home helps, with a view to improving conditions of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16331/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In September 2013 the Labour Court issued a binding recommendation to the HSE, SIPTU and IMPACT stipulating that Home Helps receive a guaranteed minimum number of working hours per week. The recommendation provided for Home Helps being guaranteed 80% of the hours they worked in the period between 1 October 2011 and 31 March 2012 per week in new contracts. Following this engagement a new contract was agreed and implemented.

I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy on the matter. 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.