Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State will be aware, today we spoke about section 39 workers. I was delighted to have my Topical Issue matter chosen this evening - I thank the Ceann Comhairle - because we need a resolution of this before Tuesday. We need to make sure section 39 workers do not strike next week. I will make a few points that were raised by me and others today.

As the Minister of State will be aware, the strike is a result of pay disparity between front-line staff employed by State-funded healthcare services and equivalent staff who work for State-funded community health and social care services. The growing pay gap of between 10% and 15% has resulted in a recruitment and retention crisis, which is blocking thousands of children and adults from accessing critical mental health, disability, homelessness and addiction services. I have met every section 39 worker in Carlow who contacted me. These dedicated section 39 workers who are employed in voluntary, not-for-profit healthcare organisations have undergone the same rigorous training and education as their counterparts in section 38 organisations and HSE workers. They work under the same conditions, face the same challenges and shoulder the same responsibility but do not get the same rewards.

I am always mindful when I single out particular services. I am on the board of Holy Angels day care centre, I have met BEAM Services, the Delta Centre, the Irish Wheelchair Association and all the other services. I can attest to their commitment and dedication. They love their work and they are dedicated. While I thank the Minister of State for coming tonight, I am a little disappointed that the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, did not. My question, which needs to go back to the Minister, is this: what additional payments will be allocated by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform? As the Minister of State will be aware, there was a 5% rejection by the section 39 workers.

We have to find a way to avert this strike. We have to get everyone around the table at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. What commitment can the Government give as regards funding? We need to get this resolved. We need a commitment from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to ensure this does not go ahead. Tonight is the last Dáil sitting before Tuesday, when the strike could happen. I am asking the Minister of State to get a resolution of this, to go back to the Departments, and to talk to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to get a commitment so that this will be resolved.

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