Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The threatened strike by section 39 and section 56 organisations is a matter of real concern, especially to the people who need those services daily, to their families and to their carers. The Government is very aware of the potential inconvenience that could be caused should the strike go ahead. I hope it will not. Much of the work done by these bodies is in the disability sector. The work they do is valuable and I assure the Deputy the Government values it.

It is important to state we are not the employer in this instance and we do not determine pay rates, which vary from organisation to organisation. As we have found with other organisations, they can vary both downwards and, in some cases, upwards, although it is mainly downwards in these cases. We do have a role to play as the funder, however. We are the main funder of these organisations and we accept that responsibility. If these organisations did not exist, their services would have to be provided directly by the State. We acknowledge we have a role to play in resolving this.

An offer has been made, which had three elements: a 5% pay increase, a backdated 3% pay increase, and a commitment to engage with the sector again if and when we have a new public sector pay agreement. We do not have one yet, but we hope to have one in the coming weeks or months. We have given a commitment to holding follow-on talks, as used to happen in the past, in the event there is a new public sector pay deal. That is 5% now, 3% backdated, and a commitment to engage on more in a matter of weeks if and when we have a new public sector pay agreement. That offer was accepted by the community sector, which voted on it. Some 82% voted in favour. Unfortunately, staff were not given a vote. I regret that. The offer is still on the table. I ask the unions involved to at least give consideration to balloting their members on it to see what the outcome of such a ballot would be. If they are not willing to do that, there are mechanisms by which they can engage with the employers and with Government, through the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court, which I hope will enable this strike not to happen.

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