Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On the first point, I do not think the Deputy has in any way overdramatised the challenges faced by staff in St. Christopher's in terms of the complexity of the health and social care needs of the students in that school, including those who have epilepsy, those who use wheelchairs, those with intellectual disabilities, the student who needs to be PEG fed and the various additional supports needed there. We will get that information about the HSE processing of the request for the additional hours to the Deputy as soon as we receive it.

On the broader issue of section 39 workers, and indeed section 56 workers who also fall within the remit of my Department, we all want to see a resolution to this industrial dispute before a strike occurs. We all recognise the invaluable work that section 39 and section 56 workers do. An industrial relations process over the summer resulted in an offer from the Government of 5% from now, 3% of which will be backdated, and discussions on a future link with the wider public sector pay deal. Unions did not accept that offer. I recognise that but it is still on the table. I think it is important that we get unions back into a process. I know there were engagements earlier this week - on Tuesday, I think - between officials and my Department. I understand there are more planned for next week. I know that a long-standing issue here has been the break of any sort of linkage between this set of workers doing the same work as public sector workers but not being paid the same. I understand that long before my time and, indeed, before the economic crisis, there was a link of some element. I can absolutely understand why that is something the workers are calling to be rejoined to some extent.

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