Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I can speak for myself and other backbenchers in that I have spoken several times about section 39 and section 56 organisations. This has not happened overnight. From speaking to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, I know that they are very aware of this and they want to find a solution. We have to find a solution. Like previous speakers, I have met several section 39 organisations in the past few months. I have visited their centres and services. I see the role they play for people with disabilities, older people, and in the delivery of the range of health and social care services in the community, including residential and day care services.

This is about community and the work that section 39 organisations do in the community. There is an anger out there. I submitted a Topical Issue on section 39 agencies that has been selected for tonight. Everybody I have spoken to is angry. They do not want to strike. The issue is, when they strike, what will happen to users of the service. It is important. I welcome the Minister of State's comment that talks are going on with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. That is something we need to address. However, I believe the Government will do what it has to do. We do not want to be in this situation with our most vulnerable. The most vulnerable people in our community will be affected if there is a strike on 17 October.

Section 39 workers do not want to strike. I know they do not. I have a fear that we will not get something done soon. I understand that we are where we are today. I also understand that opposition can be everything to everyone. I have learned that since I was elected to the House.

When someone is in opposition, he or she can commit to everything. There is no question about it. It does not matter what anyone wants, he or she can commit to it. However, at the end of the day, we have had a stable Government. We put up a budget that is very fair.

This issue definitely needs to be addressed. I will give an example of one case that I am working on at the moment. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte has done her best on this and I thank her for it. There are loads of centres in Carlow but I will not mention all of them because I will bring it up later as a Topical Issue. I have a case in Carlow with a lovely service provider and a young man who has been looked after by his mam and dad for his whole life. He has a lot of issues because he has gotten older and his parents have gotten older so they could no longer mind him. We had to get him into a residential centre and the parents were devastated. We have to appreciate the work the families put in and give to the community that is forgotten. Every one of the families I know deserves an award. They are absolutely excellent. Under section 39, the centre could not get staff. As we know, there are huge recruitment and retention issues. We got money for the man to go into residential care but there were no staff to look after him. Because of that, the poor chap is still at home. The money is there for the residential home but because there are no staff, we cannot get him into that residential home. That is an absolute nightmare. It is unfair on the family, and unfair on the man himself. These are the issues I face daily in my own area. I know the money is there so I feel that we as a Government, and the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, know that this strike just cannot go ahead. We cannot have the most vulnerable people in our community left like this. Section 39 providers have no other choice. We need to find a resolution. As for our workers and the work they have done, I want to compliment every worker that works in my own area and across the country. They go above the call of duty. They are absolutely excellent and we need to make sure, as the old saying goes, that for a proper day's work there is proper pay. We need to make sure there is proper pay, proper respect and that we do our best to make sure there is no strike on Tuesday.

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