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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue of section 38 and section 39 organisations and parity. We are close to full employment in this economy and one of the biggest challenges in the health service has been, notwithstanding funding being provided, recruiting sufficient staff in certain categories. More than 28,000 extra people have been employed in health service in past four years and that has created pressure on the agencies and on the section 39 bodies in particular. That has been compounded through pay issues although there has been some degree of resolution to that issue. There has been an acknowledgement in the current pay rounds that the agreements that have been arrived at would deal very quickly with the section 39 staff as well to improve parity. I take the Deputy's point about the longer term issue.

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