Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Enable Ireland provides services to 13,000 children and adults in 40 locations across the country. As the Minister said, Enable Ireland is part funded by the HSE and it must raise an additional €2 million from its own services to deliver vital services to clients. Last year, 70 people in Cork were out on strike demanding pay at the same rate as those in the other sectors doing the same work. For example, an occupational therapist starting off on the current scale of €39,900 to €53,000 with Enable Ireland contrasts with the private sector where the same position would be advertised for €46,000, on average. Clearly, there is that gap where people are delivering the same service to many clients. That makes it more difficult to recruit and retain staff. That issue needs to be addressed.

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