Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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2047.To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery recommended that the CNM2 salary scale would be extended by the addition of one further scale point and the introduction of a long-service increment; if he is aware that to date this has not been applied to that grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31210/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the very important part that Clinical Nurse and Midwife Managers play in our health sector. They have a key role in the effective coordination of care for patients in our Health Service.

Recent increases applied to the Clinical Nurse/ Midwife Manager 2 (CNM2/CMM2) scale were the result of the implementation of recommendation 45 of the Expert Review Body (ERB) on Nursing and Midwifery.

Recommendation 45 set out that the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 and Clinical Midwife Manager 2 pay scale would be extended by an additional scale point, making point 10 the new maximum of the scale. The scale would also gain a Long Service Increment at point 11.

As part of the new Public Service Agreement 2024-2026, it was agreed that ERB recommendation 45, as set out in Labour Court Recommendation, LCR22828, would be implemented with effect from 1 January 2024.

Circular 2/2024 has been issued by the Department of Health, sanctioning the implementation of this pay change from 1 January 2024.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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2048.To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the vital role that clinical nurse midwife specialists play in the public health services; when they can expect recommended incremental pay increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31211/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the very important part that Clinical Nurse and Midwife Specialists (CNS/CMS) play in our health sector. They have a key role in the effective coordination of care for patients in our Health Service.

The Department of Health is committed to the continued and ongoing development and support of the CNS and CMS roles going forward.

Recent increases applied to the Clinical Nurse/ Midwife Manager 2 (CNM2/CMM2) scale were a result of the implementation of recommendation 45 of the Expert Review Body (ERB) on Nursing and Midwifery.

While I understand that the salary of the CNS/CMS role has historically been aligned with the CNM 2/CMM 2 role, the terms of reference for the ERB did not incorporate the CNS/CMS for pay related considerations.

Once I became aware of this issue I sought to ensure that the benefits of recommendation 45 of the ERB could also be applied to the CNS / CMS grade. Following engagement between the two Departments, I can confirm that the Department of Health has now received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform to allow this to happen.