Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1545. To ask the Minister for Health if there is currently a practice of asking healthcare workers recruited by the HSE on fixed term contracts that are ending in December 2021 being advised to register with private homecare providers (details supplied) if they want to retain their positions; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if these workers commence employment with these private agencies, they will experience wage cuts of 23%, zero hour contracts and inferior working conditions; if this development means that the HSE is effectively a recruitment service for private care providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63552/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am engaged with stakeholders in home support and nursing homes on issues of recruitment and retention, with multiple meetings held with such groups in recent months and I can confirm the HSE is recruiting across all sectors and at all grade levels. Budget 2022 provides funding for continued further expansion in the health sector workforce. Work is also ongoing within the Department to progress the establishment of a Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group which will be established as a matter of priority in early 2022.

The role of the group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders and examine any strategic workforce challenges in front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes. Potential areas to be considered include recruitment, retention, training, and the career development of front-line carers in home support and nursing homes into the future. 

The Department is completing a short-life scoping exercise which is currently underway. A ‘call for submissions’ issued to relevant national stakeholders on 3rd December, with a closing date for receipt of submissions on 7th January 2022. 

The Department’s project team will consider the submissions received which will inform the next steps.  This is a critical first step to set out current challenges and to gather initial data and evidence to support the scoping, nature, and extent of the challenges, in advance of the Department bringing relevant stakeholders together in a structured process.  Subject to the scoping exercise, it is expected that the pay and conditions for these workers is also likely to be considered

Neither the Department nor the HSE have a direct role in the terms and conditions of individuals’ private personal contracts of employment in the private health and social care sector.