Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

119. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding any initiatives or research her Department proposes to attract and retain staff in the disability sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7383/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire agus leis an Aire Stáit. Go n-éirí leo sna poist nua.

Is í an cheist atá agam anocht ná seo: cad iad na tionscnaimh atá i bhfeidhm sa Roinn chun foireann agus oibrithe a mhealladh agus a choimeád san earnáil mhíchumais? What initiatives and research does the Department propose to attract and retain staff in the disability sector?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The HSE and lead agencies are experiencing ongoing challenges recruiting to maximum capacity in the disability sector. These challenges are reflective of issues affecting the wider health and social care sector and are impacting the ability of the HSE and disability service providers to deliver on their vital work. Ensuring that the disability sector is fully resourced is a key priority of the Government. This priority has been reflected in our programme for Government.

It is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made in recent years. Employment across the HSE and section 38 agencies is at record levels and growth achieved in 2024 has greatly surpassed prior and planned performance. From December 2019 to December 2024, the disabilities workforce in the HSE and section 38 providers expanded from 18,273 to 21,528 whole-time equivalent staff, an increase of more than 17%. In 2024 alone, the disabilities workforce increased by 963 whole-time equivalent employees, representing a 45% increase on growth levels achieved in 2023. However, demand for services continues to grow beyond present capacity and significant challenges remain, so we must continue to innovate and build on the momentum.

Increasing the disability sector workforce is a key priority for the Government. The number of funded posts in disability services has increased to 21,644 whole-time equivalent staff in 2025. This equates to an additional 384 whole-time equivalents associated with delivering existing levels of service and a further 133 whole-time equivalents staff to deliver new development measures.

A dedicated disability workforce strategy will be developed in 2025 to meet growing service demands and address recruitment and retention challenges. Our ambition is evident in the disability action plan and is further underpinned in the progressing disabilities services roadmap, which sets out measures designed to attract and retain staff in the CDNTs. I can list these later.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge the ambition and achievement in the sector and I recognise the amount of money that has been invested, but retention is very important in circumstances where one in four workers in the disability sector will leave the job within a given year. This is three times the average of other sectors. It is important to invest in this and put in place measures beyond just money to encourage people to stay in the sector. We know the factors involved: a lack of permanent positions; there can be better terms and conditions in other sectors; and the burnout of staff. All of these impact on the availability of staff, who do incredibly important work and provide much more value than the salaries they are paid would suggest. Are there measures in the Department that can come at this from more than a financial angle and put in place measures to encourage people to stay in these positions?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy, who has raised valid issues. We are supporting practice education in CDNTs. There is a student sponsorship programme. There is also an initiative whereby four years of salary are paid to new graduates over five years to support a gap year in the fifth year. We also have the development of apprenticeship programmes. At national level in response to the challenges, we have rolling recruitment campaigns with employers. There is talent searching in the Irish and international markets for staff. We also have workforce issues in CDNTs. These are being tackled through the progressing disability service roadmap to address current vacancies and expand recruitment throughout children's disability services.

At the direction of my Department, an assistant national director for disabilities workforce has been appointed in the HSE to drive disability workforce initiatives, with particular emphasis on CDNTs. There will be a disability workforce strategy developed in 2025. We are looking at a range of measures, including making sure we have a pipeline of therapists coming from third level institutions. We have HSE figures for community, voluntary and social care workers, who are the backbone of our essential services.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the programmes the Minister of State mentioned. I welcome the appointment of the assistant national director and I look forward to the strategy that will be published this year. We can all agree that the retention of staff in the sector is something that has more than just a financial impact. People who work in the disabilities sector do an incredibly difficult job. It calls on them in a vocational way to deal with challenges that most of us do not have to deal with in our daily lives. A job done well by people in this sector is something that has a large return for society. Retained staff retain the institutional knowledge, experience and expertise that come with it while also providing a continuity of service for the people they are serving in the sector. It is important for us to put in place specific measures to create positivity around the work they are doing, acknowledge it, and ensure there is a way they will want to stay in the jobs and continue to provide the valuable service that they do.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister and Minister of State on their new positions. There are major issues in the disability sector, whether we are speaking about recruitment or retention. All has to be brought to bear. We hope there will be success at the talks. The workers want to see delivery of the WRC pay agreement of October 2023. A large number of section 39 workers in the disability sector have contacted me. They are very worried about the pay and numbers strategy being implemented. They have seen it in organisations such as St. John of God in terms of mental health services. They see it as job cuts and an inability to deliver a service. What interaction has the Minister of State had on this and delivering on this particular issue?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their questions. Have we moved on to Question No. 121 in the name of Deputy Ó Murchú?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A children’s disability network team workforce survey was conducted on 16 October 2024. This survey captured staffing levels across various disciplines and grades-----

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No, I have asked a supplementary question to Question No. 119.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú. I thought that was what it was. My apologies.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I generally add confusion anyway.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is okay. It is good confusion. I thought we had moved on to the next question.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Chaos.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It was going too smoothly.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is good. It keeps me on my toes.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I apologise.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No, the Minister is fine.

I thank Deputies Ward and Ó Murchú for their questions. The question is on recruitment and retention of our staff, including therapists in our voluntary and community sectors. We are doing everything to make sure pay is fair. This is why there was a call to the WRC. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and I have brought a memo to Cabinet welcoming the talks at the WRC. From the Government's point of view, we want to make sure people are paid fairly and valued for the work they do. This is very clear. I welcome those constructive talks, which are the best way to find a resolution. The Government has given its commitment on this.

We also need to make sure we have a pipeline of people coming through, including through apprenticeships and our third level institutions, whereby students who are training have an opportunity to go into CDNTs or a special school for the summer programme and have access to, and experience of, working with children with additional needs or adults who have disabilities. The number of training places in higher education institutes have increased. We have a growth in clinical placements in children's disability network teams. This serves to improve the recruitment of health and social care professionals into the CDNTs. The HSE career hub has more than 38,000 registered applicants. This gives CDNTs a substantial boost in advertising and engaging with targeted applicant pools. We also have outreach, which is important for improving the perception of the role.