THE TRADE union Siptu has said the Government should consider providing former workers at Rostrevor House in Dublin with alternative employment in the health service.
The union said the Government should intervene to alleviate hardship for the former staff at the facility, which has been closed permanently following allegations of serious abuse of patients.
The move follows concerns raised by Siptu that the owners of the home had failed to live up to commitments to pay wages and redundancy entitlements to former workers at the home.
Later, Siptu confirmed that “two or three” of the former staff at Rostrevor received redundancy payments last night.
Health sector organiser Louise O’Reilly said the payments were couriered to the individuals, thought to be a nurse and two care assistants, at about 8.30pm. These individuals and Siptu had received a text to say the three payments were being made.
However, Ms O’Reilly said there were at least 11 others who had not yet received payment.
The union said that in the event of the money not being provided, it would pursue the issue at the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
It said one option for the Government would be to allow the staff to continue to care for their former patients, who have been moved to other facilities, by offering them alternative employment in the health sector.
The former employees include nurses, care assistants, kitchen assistants and cleaners.
The union said the director of Rostrevor House, Sarah Lipsett, had agreed to attend a meeting in its headquarters in Liberty Hall in Dublin with its representatives yesterday. It said she had then contacted the union late on Wednesday stating she would have to postpone the meeting.
The union has written to Minister for Health James Reilly requesting that he take steps to ensure whistleblowers and those who provided good care were protected.
Calls to Sarah Lipsett last night were not returned.