2047. Deputy Bríd Smith asked 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]

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.