Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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1100. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to close the pay gap between section 38 and 39 workers who provide services for children and adults with an intellectual disability, as it is directly impacting on their capacity to recruit and retain workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32737/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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An agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in October 2018 provided for pay restoration in relation to 50 pilot organisations in the first instance. Pay restoration for these bodies commenced in April 2019 with further payments due in October 2020 and October 2021 as appropriate.

The agreement recognised that some of the remaining Section 39 organisations were also likely to have pay restoration issues. A process to address these issues commenced last year under the auspices of the WRC. The parties have yet to reach an agreement. The HSE are currently carrying out a detailed costing exercise in relation to the remaining bodies which will be completed in the coming weeks. When the full costs are known, the Department will engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Health sector management remain committed to the process.