Training of low-paid staff in health service to cost €120m

IT WILL cost at least a further €120 million to finish further training for low-paid staff in the health service under the controversial Skill training programme, it has emerged.

A new report on the scheme, which was given to the Dáil Public Accounts Committee last Friday, indicated there was no evidence that such cost projections had been carried out previously by management of the Skill programme.

The audit also found that based on the average rate of participation to date – 1,742 staff a year – “it will take up to 2023 to train all [existing] 32,000 support workers”.

If the average number of graduations is used, the date for finalising this training process is pushed back to 2031.

The new audit stated that based on the average training cost of €5,241, the total cost of the Skill programme for existing workers would be €167 million – of which €47 million has already been spent.

“Due to the exceptional projected costs identified in this audit, it is essential that HSE management now assures itself of the effectiveness of the training programme to date and carry out a review of the potential future costings in order to ensure that the programme. . . is delivered as economically as possible and that it delivers value for taxpayers’ money.”

The new audit has also revealed that more than €5 million was paid out by the HSE to trainers under the Skill programme.

The funds were allocated for accommodation and facilities, wages and salaries, and travel and subsistence, when the executive had more than 20 centres for nurses and midwifery education as well as training facilities of the performance and development units in each of the four administrative areas.

The audit noted that this did not represent good value for money.

Another audit given to the committee on Friday stated that official HSE procurement policy and procedures were not complied with in relation to training services which cost about €16 million.

“This is evident in the lack of adherence to HSE procurement policy – which is based on national and EU procurement rules – confusion in carrying out the procurement process, vagueness of the training tender specifications, inadequate documentary evidence available to the auditors . . . unauthorised signing of the major training contract (expenditure in excess of €15 million) by the general manager of Skill and the non-executive chairman of the steering group contrary to HSE contract signing procedures and the non-signing of other training contracts.”