Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

558. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if pay restoration which may apply in future for workers in section 39 agencies will apply to those workers that were previously employed in section 39 agencies when their pay was cut and that are now employed in agencies covered by section 56 of the Child and Family Act 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4131/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, makes provision for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, subject to certain matters including the resources available to the Agency, to enter into arrangements with not for profit service providers for the provision of services similar to activities carried out by the Agency and consistent with its functions.

Tusla allocates funding, under an arrangement, to not for profit service providers for the provision of a level of service commensurate with the funding provided. Not for profit organisations operate independently of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed. Staff in these organisations are not public servants and, as such, are not entitled to the pay restoration provided for in the Public Service Agreements. Indeed, the issue of public servant status for the employees of such organisations is an issue which goes beyond the social care sector with far reaching implications across the public sector as a whole.

Tusla fully appreciates the role that not for profit organisations play in providing services and supports to vulnerable children and families.