Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the hugely important role section 39 organisations and their workers play in our health and social care services. They are absolutely essential in providing services, including to people with disabilities and older people in the community.

A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in community and voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October last year, as the Deputy referenced. While the Government is committed to the process, it should be noted that the section 39 organisations, which are largely non-profit, are privately owned and run. The terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee. However, we all know that is highly contingent on State funding.

On 17 April, officials from my Department, the HSE, Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth met with union representatives under the auspices of the WRC. This engagement sought to understand and explore the scope of the unions' claim for pay rises for community and voluntary sector workers. A follow-up engagement took place at the WRC on 15 May, with a further up follow-up engagement due to take place less than two weeks from now, on 12 June. As this is an ongoing industrial relations process, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I am limited in what I can say.

It is important to note that none of the organisations attending the exploratory talks are the employers of the staff in question. The Department notes that it is a cross-sectoral issue and that we need to engage across government and in the round on it.

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