Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I appreciate the Deputy's raising of this issue. I am very well aware of the historical nature of this, particularly in the context of the differentials between public service employees following the restoration of the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, cuts and those who are working in section 39 organisations who did not get the same level of restoration. Yet, it is a more complex terrain in terms of the multiplicity of organisations, as well as the scale and size of organisations. Clearly, we do not in any way disagree that this is an issue that needs to be resolved.

I am conscious that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has engaged with the trade unions in relation to this. We understand the staffing and recruitment issues that have arisen because of emerging pay differentials. This is notwithstanding historic allocations in more general terms, such as in disability funding, which has taken place over the last three years and which has been quite significant. Nonetheless, there are significant issues here.

Officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Health, the HSE and Tusla attended a number of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, over recent months, along with the trade unions. That process culminated in an offer being made to unions. The offer was in line with those that had been accepted by community and voluntary staff in other sectors. It amounted to an approximately 5% increase in funding for pay, effective from November 2023, with 3% being back-dated to April 2023. A commitment to re-engage with trade union representatives following any further public sector pay agreement was also offered. That offer remains on the table. That offer was not acceptable to the trade union representatives and, subsequently, the decision was taken to take strike action. I hope that strike action can be averted and I urge all sides to revert back to the negotiating table. I say this because industrial action will negatively impact on people who use these vital services. I encourage unions and employers to re-engage. The Department is available to go back into the Workplace Relations Commission. The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is conscious of the issue and there is ongoing dialogue with the Department of Health in respect of the overall budget for 2024.

I genuinely believe that, notwithstanding the fact that the process to date has not yielded a resolution, we must deal with this through the industrial relations mechanisms in order to avoid a negative impact on those who use the services. I am very conscious of the issues here. We need a just and fair resolution. We need a just and fair resolution that is sustainable into the future-----

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