Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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328. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to incentivise roles such as orthodontists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists in the public health sector in which shortages are arising and long waiting lists are being further exacerbated as a result of same; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these professionals wanting to work in the private sector is a perceived reason for shortages in addition to emigration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17437/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In general terms, steps continue to be taken to improve the pay of public servants as a whole.  The Government ratified the measures agreed in the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) and this provided a statutory roadmap for the unwinding of FEMPI.  This includes a series of salary increases that will see public servants, including orthodontists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists working in the public service receiving on average a 7% increase over the lifetime of the agreement. The Agreement commits to 90% pay restoration by the end of 2020.  All public servants (excluding teachers who did not agree to the PSSA) received a 1% increase in October 2018.

It should be noted that the Public Sector Pay Commission in its analysis of health sector grades, did not identify Occupational Therapists or Speech and Language Therapists as grades where recruitment or retention difficulties were being experienced.  It did identify Public Dentistry as having challenges and this is being looked at further by the Commission in Phase Two of its work.

Opportunities for professionals who choose to seek employment in the private sector or abroad is an issue which faces all public employers.  However, the measures outlined above in terms of pay restoration and the work of the Pay Commission should assist in making working in the Irish health service more attractive to potential candidates.