Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of section 39 health and community workers. As the Minister knows, an agreement was reached in October last year between the Department of Health, the Department of children, and the INMO, SIPTU and Fórsa trade unions on behalf of these workers. The agreement included an 8% increase while negotiations were to continue regarding future pay movement. I understand that the staff in some section 39 organisations have still not received the 8% pay increase a year after the agreement was reached. Furthermore, I understand that negotiations on future pay movement have stalled, resulting in these workers falling further behind the pay rates of their public sector colleagues. Why is that the case? Will the Minister tell me what steps the Government is taking to address the issue? What is the timeline for the full resolution and implementation of this? Has the Government acted in bad faith? The deal was done. Is the Government reneging on its promises?

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