Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I hope the proposal arising from the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, will see health and social care workers in the community and voluntary sector achieve the pay parity they have demanded for so long.

The announcement of last week's budget was the moment the Government officially walked away from fixing healthcare. Last night I met organisations that deliver services to people with disabilities and they said the budget has failed these citizens. They feel left out. There was serious concern about the lack of clarity about whether they will receive stand-alone funding to tackle soaring operating costs. Last year, this funding was vital in allowing organisations to continue to provide services to people with disabilities. However, last night the Department confirmed to me that there will be no such stand-alone funding for 2024. There is a real fear that organisations will struggle to deliver the services many people depend on. How can the Taoiseach stand over this decision?

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