Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank the Labour Party for tabling this very important motion this morning. As has been noted by many speakers, the section 39 workers in the community and voluntary sector are not being properly paid and they have not received a pay increase for 14 years. We have only to look at this year and the way the cost of living has gone up - it has practically doubled in the past 12 months - to know that these people cannot be expected to keep going with the rate of pay they are getting at present. They do such important work, whether it is in the childcare sector or helping people with mental health problems, in rural social schemes and delivering meals on wheels to elderly people who can no longer make a meal for themselves. This ensures they can stay in their homes for as long as possible without going into a nursing home or hospital. They do such valuable work for all those people.

We thank the workers for the great work they do in all of our communities and for keeping places looking so well, including entrances to towns. Local authorities do not have the funding or operatives to do this kind of work. The workers themselves are glad to be out in the morning and playing a part in their community and leaving the signs of their handiwork on so many parts of our towns and villages. The fruits of their work are to the benefit of all the people who live in these rural places especially. If they were not there, these places would be very shoddy and out of shape. We thank the workers and supervisors. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that the workers are treated the same as every other worker and not to have them waiting for 14 years for a pay rise.

See this speech in context