Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate his response. Unfortunately, it has not addressed the core issue I raised regarding the handful of organisations that have not been brought into the tent in respect of the pay agreements. To elaborate further, prior to 2010, a section 39 block grant funded St. Luke's Home in Cork. Since then, it has had a number of different sources of funding, including the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The HSE provides funding in respect of respite and day services. It is a complicated model in terms of funding sources. That explains why staff have not been addressed as of yet in terms of the pay agreements.

Staff are being pushed from pillar to post. Given the spirit of the agreement and the fact that other voluntary organisations have been brought in, it is critically important that we find a solution to this matter as soon as possible. As I said, this is putting St. Luke's Home, a tremendous organisation in Cork, under severe financial pressure. In terms of management and the running of the organisation, the morale of staff and so on, it is an important and significant issue. The board does not use the phrase "existential crisis" too easily, but it has done in this particular case. It is a matter that has not been resolved to date and has been going on for some time.

I acknowledge the response the Minister of State has provided, but it did not address the core of the issue or unravel what needs to be dealt with in terms of St. Luke's Home in Cork. I ask him to take the matter up with the Department so that some solution can be found. It is only right and proper that the staff of St. Luke's Home would receive the same pay increases as other staff across the country. It is vitally important for the organisation that this happens. Will the Minister of State take the matter up after this debate so that we can find a solution? My sole purpose in raising this matter is to find a solution for the staff and management of the organisation.

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