Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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416. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale for breaking for breaking parity between the ANP and ADON grades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48387/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the matter referenced relates to the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery, published in 2022. There is currently an ongoing process surrounding two specific recommendations of the Review:

Recommendation 42, which states that Align the salary of a single Director of Nursing in each of the nine Model 4 hospitals to that of the Area Director of Nursing for Mental Health.

and Recommendation 43 which states that The Hospital Banding System currently in place to be discontinued. A revised approach for determining Director of Nursing/Midwifery and Assistant Director of Nursing/Midwifery grading across the system to be implemented. This should take into account the revised roles, scope, and responsibilities in the context of Sláintecare and the reforms required to provide integrated and universal healthcare. The number of grades to be rationalised to eight salary scales, the details to be determined between the relevant parties in the context of the next public service pay agreement.

These recommendations are relevant only to Director and Assistant Director Nursing and Midwifery grades. The Review explicitly notes that there are “14 DON/M and ADON/M” in need of reform. No other grades are mentioned.

A process of engagement in relation to recommendations 42 and 43 began in 2023 and engagement is continuing. The Department is working hard to reach a resolution on this process and has been actively engaging with nursing unions to do so.

While the process has taken some time, it must be acknowledged that an offer was made in respect of this process to the unions last year, which would have provided for a 6% average increase to those affected. This offer was not accepted and discussions continue.

The inclusion of further grades in this process would amount to a cost increasing claim and, as such, is prohibited under the terms of the Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026 – outside of the Local Bargaining process.

The Local Bargaining process, which provides an allocation of €38 million for nursing-related claims, represents the only appropriate mechanism through which matters relating to grades outside the scope of Recommendations 42 and 43 may be progressed.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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417. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale for maintaining existing parity arrangements between ANP and ADON grades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48388/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the matter referenced relates to the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery, published in 2022. There is currently an ongoing process surrounding two specific recommendations of the Review:

Recommendation 42, which states that Align the salary of a single Director of Nursing in each of the nine Model 4 hospitals to that of the Area Director of Nursing for Mental Health.

and Recommendation 43 which states that The Hospital Banding System currently in place to be discontinued. A revised approach for determining Director of Nursing/Midwifery and Assistant Director of Nursing/Midwifery grading across the system to be implemented. This should take into account the revised roles, scope, and responsibilities in the context of Sláintecare and the reforms required to provide integrated and universal healthcare. The number of grades to be rationalised to eight salary scales, the details to be determined between the relevant parties in the context of the next public service pay agreement.

These recommendations are relevant only to Director and Assistant Director Nursing and Midwifery grades. The Review explicitly notes that there are “14 DON/M and ADON/M” in need of reform. No other grades are mentioned.

A process of engagement in relation to recommendations 42 and 43 began in 2023 and engagement is continuing. The Department is working hard to reach a resolution on this process and has been actively engaging with nursing unions to do so.

While the process has taken some time, it must be acknowledged that an offer was made in respect of this process to the unions last year, which would have provided for a 6% average increase to those affected. This offer was not accepted and discussions continue.

The inclusion of further grades in this process would amount to a cost increasing claim and, as such, is prohibited under the terms of the Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026 – outside of the Local Bargaining process.

The Local Bargaining process, which provides an allocation of €38 million for nursing-related claims, represents the only appropriate mechanism through which matters relating to grades outside the scope of Recommendations 42 and 43 may be progressed.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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418. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for prolonged delays in implementing ANP grade pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48389/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the matter referenced relates to the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery, published in 2022. There is currently an ongoing process surrounding two specific recommendations of the Review:

Recommendation 42, which states that Align the salary of a single Director of Nursing in each of the nine Model 4 hospitals to that of the Area Director of Nursing for Mental Health.”

and Recommendation 43 which states that The Hospital Banding System currently in place to be discontinued. A revised approach for determining Director of Nursing/Midwifery and Assistant Director of Nursing/Midwifery grading across the system to be implemented. This should take into account the revised roles, scope, and responsibilities in the context of Sláintecare and the reforms required to provide integrated and universal healthcare. The number of grades to be rationalised to eight salary scales, the details to be determined between the relevant parties in the context of the next public service pay agreement.

These recommendations are relevant only to Director and Assistant Director Nursing and Midwifery grades. The Review explicitly notes that there are “14 DON/M and ADON/M” in need of reform. No other grades are mentioned.

A process of engagement in relation to recommendations 42 and 43 began in 2023 and engagement is continuing. The Department is working hard to reach a resolution on this process and has been actively engaging with nursing unions to do so.

While the process has taken some time, it must be acknowledged that an offer was made in respect of this process to the unions last year, which would have provided for a 6% average increase to those affected. This offer was not accepted and discussions continue.

The inclusion of further grades in this process would amount to a cost increasing claim and, as such, is prohibited under the terms of the Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026 – outside of the Local Bargaining process.

The Local Bargaining process, which provides an allocation of €38 million for nursing-related claims, represents the only appropriate mechanism through which matters relating to grades outside the scope of Recommendations 42 and 43 may be progressed.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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419. To ask the Minister for Health if any limitation of back pay to ANP’s is being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48390/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the matter referenced relates to the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery, published in 2022. There is currently an ongoing process surrounding two specific recommendations of the Review:

Recommendation 42, which states that Align the salary of a single Director of Nursing in each of the nine Model 4 hospitals to that of the Area Director of Nursing for Mental Health.

and Recommendation 43 which states that The Hospital Banding System currently in place to be discontinued. A revised approach for determining Director of Nursing/Midwifery and Assistant Director of Nursing/Midwifery grading across the system to be implemented. This should take into account the revised roles, scope, and responsibilities in the context of Sláintecare and the reforms required to provide integrated and universal healthcare. The number of grades to be rationalised to eight salary scales, the details to be determined between the relevant parties in the context of the next public service pay agreement.

These recommendations are relevant only to Director and Assistant Director Nursing and Midwifery grades. The Review explicitly notes that there are “14 DON/M and ADON/M” in need of reform. No other grades are mentioned.

A process of engagement in relation to recommendations 42 and 43 began in 2023 and engagement is continuing. The Department is working hard to reach a resolution on this process and has been actively engaging with nursing unions to do so.

While the process has taken some time, it must be acknowledged that an offer was made in respect of this process to the unions last year, which would have provided for a 6% average increase to those affected. This offer was not accepted and discussions continue.

The inclusion of further grades in this process would amount to a cost increasing claim and, as such, is prohibited under the terms of the Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026 – outside of the Local Bargaining process.

The Local Bargaining process, which provides an allocation of €38 million for nursing-related claims, represents the only appropriate mechanism through which matters relating to grades outside the scope of Recommendations 42 and 43 may be progressed.