Written answers
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
Department of Health
Health Services
Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1567. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he is taking to ensure employers of Section 39 organisations receive the same pay and conditions as their counterparts employed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15116/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
It is worth noting that S39 organisations are not public bodies, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee. The HSE has already made significant payments on account to qualifying organisations to begin to address the amounts due to staff under the Section 39 Employee WRC agreement. In recent weeks the HSE has issued templates to over 1,130 Section 39 funded organisations to allow them to claim the full amounts of funding due to their employees. To date, 165 organisations have replied and these are now being processed. The HSE has also written again to all Section 39 funded organisations requesting that they submit their claims without delay and offering support to organisations who have queries in relation to the process. Funding will be allocated on an annual basis.
Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1568. To ask the Minister for Health the reason money was allocated to provide only for a lump sum payment in respect of money due to Section 39 workers in the past year and no funds allocated to sustain the increase going forward. [15121/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
It is worth noting that S39 organisations are not public bodies, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee. The HSE has already made significant payments on account to qualifying organisations to begin to address the amounts due to staff under the Section 39 Employee WRC agreement. In recent weeks the HSE has issued templates to over 1,130 Section 39 funded organisations to allow them to claim the full amounts of funding due to their employees. To date, 165 organisations have replied and these are now being processed. The HSE has also written again to all Section 39 funded organisations requesting that they submit their claims without delay and offering support to organisations who have queries in relation to the process. Funding will be allocated on an annual basis.
Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1569. To ask the Minister for Health the reason pay parity for section 39 employees is taking so long (details supplied). [15122/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
It is worth noting that S39 organisations are not public bodies, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee. The HSE has already made significant payments on account to qualifying organisations to begin to address the amounts due to staff under the Section 39 Employee WRC agreement. In recent weeks the HSE has issued templates to over 1,130 Section 39 funded organisations to allow them to claim the full amounts of funding due to their employees. To date, 165 organisations have replied and these are now being processed. The HSE has also written again to all Section 39 funded organisations requesting that they submit their claims without delay and offering support to organisations who have queries in relation to the process. Funding will be allocated on an annual basis.
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1570. To ask the Minister for Health what assistance can be offered to a day centre (details supplied); when Section 91 for practising chiropody will reopen for registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15124/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and registration boards it oversees, collectively known as CORU, are responsible for protecting the public through regulation of the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended). CORU fulfils this role by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training, and competence amongst the regulated professions.
The Podiatrists Registration Board opened on the 31st March 2021 and CORU have confirmed that it ran a communications campaign at that time to highlight this development and provide information on the future registration requirements.
In addition, raising awareness about CORU’s regulatory role is a key priority for the organisation and, to support this, CORU undertook its largest ever public information campaign in autumn of 2021. A radio advertising campaign was coordinated with a nationwide outdoor advertising initiative to raise awareness of CORU’s remit. This campaign received widespread recognition and was continued and expanded in 2022.
Furthermore, I am advised that CORU rolled out a comprehensive campaign early in 2023 to again raise awareness of the requirement for podiatrists/chiropodists to register before the end of the transitional period on 31st March, 2023. This included ads and press release in the print media, use of social media, blogs and notices to professional/industry bodies. This included notice to National HR and Strategic Workforce Planning within the HSE to help raise awareness. Letters were also sent to circa 200 individual chiropodists and podiatrists nationwide.
When a register opens for the first time for a CORU regulated profession, there are two application pathways available to prospective applicants:
- Section 38 : Applicants must hold an approved qualification to be eligible to apply. This application route is open indefinitely.
- Section 91 : Applicants must be existing practitioners working in the profession for a minimum period of two years out of the five years prior to the register being opened. As per the legislation, this application pathway is open for a period of two-years only.
As the section 91 route is no longer available, applications to register as a podiatrist/chiropodist must be made through the Section 38 application route. Applicants must hold an approved qualification, details of which are available on CORU's website at coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/education/approved-qualifications/podiatrists/.
I am advised that CORU have been in contact with the applicant, informing them of the legislative requirements for registration with CORU i.e. that all applicants are required to have an approved qualification when applying under S38 of the Act, which is now the only route available to the applicant. CORU have also confirmed to the applicant that the transitional period (31 March 2021 – 31 March 2023) was the period when the S91 application route was open.
On the matter of why the HSE did not contact the organisation concerned, if it was aware that it was providing podiatry/chiropody services, this is a matter that should be directed to the HSE. Please be aware that since the transitional period ended on 31st March 2023, all chiropody/ podiatry services provided by any individual calling themselves a chiropodist/podiatrist must be provided by a CORU registered individual.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
1571. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15125/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
No comments