Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1336. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13006/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Senior Officials in my Department continue in their efforts to ensure this matter can be brought to a satisfactory resolution as quickly as possible in compliance with the recommendations outlined in LCR19986, whilst taking account of the part settlement acknowledged by FORSA in their letter to the HSE on 13th April last.

13th April 2022

Re: Forsa Sectoral Bargaining Units

Dear Paul,

I refer to your e-mail of the 5th of April 2022 in the above regard wherein you set out the terms of section 2.1.5 of Building Momentum and sought the formal position on Sectoral Bargaining Claims.

The Forsa position on Sectoral Bargaining Claims was set out clearly at our meeting on the 22nd of March and is as follows:

- The Senior grades comprehended by the Report no. 42 of the review body on Higher Remuneration will accept 1% during the lifetime of this agreement as part settlement of this outstanding matter which still requires absolute resolution following expiry of the current agreement.

- The maximum point on the General Manager scale should be adjusted to a level equivalent to the overall cost, which would occur if a general round increase of 1% on all scale points was to be applied. This adjustment is in part settlement only of the outstanding benchmarking II award (5%) in respect of the grade of general manager and the remainder of this claim must still be resolved following the expiry of the current agreement.

- The maximum point on the Principal Social Worker scale should be adjusted to a level equivalent to the overall cost which would occur if a general round increase of 1% was to be applied. This adjustment is in part settlement only of the outstanding benchmarking II award (8.5%) in respect of the Principal Social Worker grade and the remainder of this claim must still be resolved following the expiry of the current agreement.

- The employer’s side has refused to discuss sectoral bargaining in respect of Health and Social care professionals until the matter relating to Hospital Pharmacists has been processed through the Labour Court.

- Clerical and Administrative Grades III to VII will accept a Sectoral Bargaining 1% increase. Arrangements for payment of same should be made immediately as was the case in other sectors.

- Discussions on outstanding matters in respect of Chief Officer, CHO’s and Emergency Management Officers remain underway. Discussions on Finance Restructuring are also scheduled to commence shortly.

- Management grades not referenced above should be subject to a 1% Sectoral Bargaining adjustment.

As ever I remain available to discuss the matter with you.

Yours Sincerely

Éamonn Donnelly

Head of Division, Health and Welfare

Fórsa Sectoral Bargaining Position