Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 5 October 2023

Public Accounts Committee

Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2023

9:30 am

Mr. Bernard Gloster:

What happens is that every year, regarding all of the section 38 and section 39 agencies, we have a target to conclude the signing or entering into a service-level or grant-aid agreement with them, usually by the end of February. This is due to matters well-rehearsed in this committee ten years ago. That is what we aim to do. It is through that process that we negotiate with them what we are able to give them and what the best level of support we can give them is. What we are not allowed do is determine public pay policy and specifically say that this is now the pay grade for the sector. That is not within our gift.