Ms Margot Loughman:

As Deputy Murnane O'Connor knows, with regard to section 39 organisations there was an agreement on an 8% increase last year. Recently, the Department along with others went into discussions with the unions and employers on the next round. The agreement was that a process would be in place to look to further rounds. An offer was put on the table but, unfortunately, the unions rejected it and left the talks but we are hopeful there will be further engagement in the very near future.