Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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707. To ask the Minister for Health his views on reports in a newspaper (details supplied) that consultants in the HSE are being hired at rates above the starting salary on the pay scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9229/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Consultants recruited by the HSE do not have to be appointed to the starting point of the pay scales applicable to the consultant grade. Approved arrangements make provision for the recruitment of a significant proportion of Consultants above the starting point of the pay scale.

An Agreement concluded with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in January 2015 resulted in a 9 point salary scale for 'new entrant' consultants. The Agreement followed engagement between my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) at the LRC. The Agreement included provisions covering incremental credit that would result in consultants commencing at different points on the scale.

The LRC specifically proposed within the Agreement that incremental credit be available up to the 6th point of the salary scales. It recommended that the parties establish a Committee to develop a framework for the application of incremental credit which would take into account relevant and appropriate service and qualifications. The LRC also proposed the membership of the Committee and recommended, that in addition to the framework, the Committee would set the policy and determine how incremental credit would be recognised in such exceptional cases as arise. In addition, the Agreement provided that Business Cases could be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in exceptional cases seeking sanction for appointment beyond the 6th point of the scales.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform formally sanctioned the provisions of the Agreement and specifically the Incremental Credit proposals within the Agreement on 29th January 2015. Sanction from the Minister for Health issued to the HSE on 3rd February 2015.

The HSE circulated the finalised Framework, developed and agreed by the Committee within the LRC's parameters to all relevant personnel, hospitals, CHO's and agencies on 15 September 2015. This was followed by a FAQ Guidance Note on 28th September 2015.

Taking account of the recognition given to relevant service and additional qualifications within the Incremental Credit Framework it would be expected that many consultants would not commence at the starting point of the salary scale.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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708. To ask the Minister for Health the number of consultants in the HSE who have been hired at rates above the starting salary on the pay scale as per reports in a newspaper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9230/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy concerning the data sought.

It is noted however that Consultants recruited by the HSE do not have to be appointed to the starting point of the pay scales applicable to the consultant grade. Approved arrangements make provision for the recruitment of a significant proportion of Consultants above the starting point of the pay scale.

An Agreement concluded with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in January 2015 resulted in a 9 point salary scale for 'new entrant' consultants. The Agreement followed engagement between my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE with the Irish Medical Organisation at the LRC. The Agreement includes provisions covering incremental credit that would result in consultants commencing at different points on the scale.

The LRC specifically proposed within the Agreement that incremental credit be available up to the 6th point of the salary scales. It recommended that the parties establish a Committee to develop a framework for the application of incremental credit which would take into account relevant and appropriate service and qualifications. The LRC also proposed the membership of the Committee and recommended, that in addition to the framework, the Committee would set the policy and determine how incremental credit would be recognised in such exceptional cases as arise. In addition, the Agreement provides that Business Cases could be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in exceptional cases seeking sanction for appointment beyond the 6th point of the scales.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform formally sanctioned the provisions of the Agreement and specifically the Incremental Credit proposals within the Agreement on 29th January 2015. Sanction from the Minister for Health issued to the HSE on 3rd February 2015.

The HSE circulated the finalised Framework, developed and agreed by the Committee within the LRC's parameters, to all relevant personnel, hospitals, CHO's and agencies on 15 September 2015. This was followed by a FAQ Guidance Note on 28th September 2015.

Taking account of the recognition given to relevant service and additional qualifications within the Incremental Credit Framework it would be expected that many consultants would not commence at the starting point of the salary scale.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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709. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the recruitment practices of the HSE with regard to the hiring of consultants as per reports in a newspaper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9231/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Consultants recruited by the HSE do not have to be appointed to the starting point of the pay scales applicable to the consultant grade. Approved arrangements make provision for the recruitment of a significant proportion of Consultants above the starting point of the pay scale.

An Agreement concluded with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in January 2015 resulted in a 9 point salary scale for 'new entrant' consultants. The Agreement followed engagement between my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE with the Irish Medical Organisation at the LRC. The Agreement included provisions covering incremental credit that would result in consultants commencing at different points on the scale.

The LRC specifically proposed within the Agreement that incremental credit be available up to the 6th point of the salary scales. It recommended that the parties establish a Committee to develop a framework for the application of incremental credit which would take into account relevant and appropriate service and qualifications. The LRC also proposed the membership of the Committee and recommended, that in addition to the framework, the Committee would set the policy and determine how incremental credit would be recognised in such exceptional cases as arise. In addition, the Agreement also provided that Business Cases could be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in exceptional cases seeking sanction for appointment beyond the 6th point of the scales.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform formally sanctioned the provisions of the Agreement and specifically the Incremental Credit proposals within the Agreement on 29th January 2015. Sanction from the Minister for Health issued to the HSE on 3rd February 2015.

The HSE circulated the finalised Framework, developed and agreed by the Committee within the LRC's parameters, to all relevant personnel, hospitals, CHO's and agencies on 15 September 2015. This was followed by a FAQ Guidance Note on 28th September 2015.

Taking account of the recognition given to relevant service and additional qualifications within the Incremental Credit Framework it would be expected that many consultants would not commence at the starting point of the salary scale.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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711. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has knowingly set staffing targets and funding for the HSE that are undeliverable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9233/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2022 secured funding for up to an additional 10,000 WTE, reflecting the level of ambition and desire to invest in our health services. However, there are a range of targets set out in the draft National Service Plan. The targeted recruitment for this year continues to address any identified staff shortages across grades and service areas.

Discussions between the Department and HSE officials agreed that, due to the current challenging recruitment environment, 5,500 WTE is a more achievable target for 2022. The upper affordable limit of 10,000 WTE is not seen as undeliverable, but rather one that will be ambitious and challenging to achieve, given the risks affecting labour supply. It is worth noting that these recruitment targets are additional WTE and do not include the replacement of existing staff who retire/leave during the year.

The HSE identified the more realistic recruitment target of 5,500 WTE alongside a more challenging ‘stretch’ target of 10,000 WTE set out in the National Service Plan. The Department has been working closely with the HSE to assess potential savings and further decisions on how this funding will be used will be taken. Actual recruitment will, as always, be monitored by the HSE and the Department throughout the course of the year under the governance and oversight arrangements in place.