Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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287. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the restoration of pay for staff in outstanding section 39 funded organisations; the funding that has allocated for this in 2020 and 2021; the name and number of organisations that await having funding restored; if he has discussed this with his Cabinet colleagues; the estimated cost in 2021 to restore pay for those workers in the outstanding section 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22901/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that a WRC agreement was reached in October 2018 in relation to pay restoration. This provided for pay restoration in relation to 50 ‘pilot organisations’ in the first instance. Pay restoration for these bodies commenced in April 2019 with further payments due in 2020 and 2021 where appropriate.

The WRC agreement also states:“It is recognised that some of the remaining Section 39 organisations (estimated 250 approximately) are likely to have pay restoration issues and a process to address these will be agreed and the parties will commence engagement on this issue during 2019”

There has been renewed engagements in recent months between the parties on this matter under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. HSE management has indicated its willingness to undertake the preparatory work around implementation of pay restoration for this next group. The HSE has also confirmed the following:

- A dedicated resource has been assigned to this work

- Costing of the next phase of pay restoration is underway

- It is intended to use the learning from the first 50 pilot organisations to streamline this process

Engagement is ongoing between the parties utilising the dispute resolution mechanisms of the Workplace Relations Commission. It is expected that any funding required will be considered in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure in the context of the annual Estimates process.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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288. To ask the Minister for Health the projected cost of addressing pay inequality in the health service in 2021; if he will provide a breakdown by grade; the position of his Department on this policy issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22902/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The policy position of the Government on new entrant pay is primarily a matter for DPER and, as such, the Deputy may wish to raise this directly with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

With regard to consultants, at present 'new entrant' consultants recruited since 1 October 2012 are on lower pay scales than those recruited prior to that date. The Programme for Government provides for the finalisation of the new Sláintecare Consultant Contract and the introduction of related legislation to support 'public-only work' in public hospitals. The FEMPI Acts currently prohibit pay increases for serving public servants and will require amendment to enable pay increases for serving consultants who move to the Sláintecare 'public only' Consultant Contract.

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the estimated costs as requested.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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289. To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent on agency staff in 2020 to date across the health service; the breakdown for the amount spent on nursing agency staff to date in 2020; his plans to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22903/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.