Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

First of all, I recognise the presence of many staff members of section 56 and 39 organisations in the Public Gallery. I also recognise that they have been joined by many service users, who will be impacted by industrial action, and their family members. I know that the threat of industrial action is not one that is made lightly by any of these incredibly dedicated staff members.

The sustainability and stability of the health and social care sectors are a key concern for the Government. We recognise that the ability of voluntary organisations to pay their staff is highly dependent on State funding. Section 39 organisations have seen overall disability funding increase from €531 million in 2018 to approximately €707 million in 2023, or by approximately 33%. Section 56 bodies have seen funding increases from €138 million in 2014 to €206 million last year, or by nearly 50%. These services have grown and, as we all know, demand for them has grown significantly as well.

As outlined in July, my Department and the Department of Health made a combined offer of a 5% pay funding increase to employer bodies. This offer was in line with those accepted by community and voluntary staff in other sectors. The offer to workers in this sector would have been effective from November 2023, with 3% of that backdated to April. That combined offer was not accepted by the trade union representatives and unions representing some section 39 and 56 workers announced that their members in a selection of employer organisations would take indefinite strike action.

While the Government has engaged in a process through the Workplace Relations Commission, it is worth noting that section 39 and section 56 organisations are privately owned and operated and the terms and conditions of employment for their staff are ultimately between the employer and the employee. Similar considerations arise in respect of other sectors across government, adding to the complexity in seeking to resolve matters in one specific sector.

All involved parties, including the Government, want to see a meaningful resolution that improves sustainability and the ability of these vital organisations to recruit and retain staff actively. The Government is working with Tusla and the HSE, which are the relevant agencies and are engaged in contingency planning with the employer organisations that will be affected by industrial action so that any impact on those who depend on these essential services can be managed to the greatest extent possible.

Next week, we will face a strike. I recognise that, if it goes ahead, it will impact on people with disabilities, their loved ones, families seeking support in some of the most challenged communities across our country, and children in need of a safe place to stay. Let me be very clear – the Government wants to avoid this industrial action. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, our departmental officials and I are working hard to avoid it. The unions have made it clear that a meaningful offer is what is required. That is what is being worked on across the Government. The Government is the funder, which puts a responsibility on us to be part of the solution and to address the matter at hand. Over the summer, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform worked with us on developing an offer and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, understands the points at the core of the industrial action. Through the combined work of our Departments, and with the co-operation of the employers and unions, we look forward to arriving at a potential solution as soon as possible. That solution needs to be a long-term one that resolves an inequity that, as many Deputies have pointed out, is over a decade old. Sticking plasters have been put in place to try to resolve this disparity in the past, but they have not worked and that approach cannot happen again. We need something that will work for the long term.

As the Minister of State pointed out, the Department acknowledges the important role that these organisations and their workers play in our health and social care services. This work is essential in providing services to many families and vulnerable people in society. In our Department, we are ready to support, to talk and to engage. We encourage the unions to return to the WRC process – and we would welcome the presence of employers there – with a view to avoiding industrial action and the negative impacts that it would have on the people and families using these services.

I recognise that resolving this dispute and, more fundamentally, addressing the key recruitment and retention challenges that many Deputies have spoken to and that are being experienced within the community and voluntary sector will involve additional investment in the sector. Our Department stands ready to play our role in resolving this issue.

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