John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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494. To ask the Minister for Health if the recommendations of the expert review body on nursing and midwifery have been assessed; the number of recommendations implemented; his views on the remainder; if the CNM2 salary scale will be extended by the addition of a further scale point and the introduction of a long service increment; and the timeframe for the implementation of the recommendations relative to the salary scales and service increments. [37571/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the Expert Review Body (ERB) on Nursing and Midwifery provides 47 recommendations to improve and develop the professions over the next number of years in line with population health and patient care needs.

The recommendations are focused on reform, particularly in relation to the areas of workforce, education and professional development, digital health and governance and leadership.

I approved the implementation plan for the recommendations contained within this Report in September 2022. The national oversight group known as ERB Implementation Oversight Team (IOT) was established and is chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer.

Five Implementation Action Groups (IAGs) were established in April 2023 to progress implementation of prioritised recommendations. Implementation of these recommendations also considers national strategies. Work on these and the other recommendations progressing outside of the IAGs is underway and being monitored by the IOT. To date 13 of the 47 recommendations from the ERB Report have been implemented

Recommendation 45 of the ERB set out that the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 and Clinical Midwife Manager 2 pay scales would be extended by an additional scale point making Point 10 the new max of scale. The scale would also gain an LSI at Point 11. As part of the new Public Service Agreement, 2024-2026, it was agreed that the recommendations set out by the Labour Court would be implemented with effect from 1st January 2024.