Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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832. To ask the Minister for Health the status of pay restoration for section 39 workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44969/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As we are aware, an agreement was reached by the parties in October 2018, in relation to a process of pay restoration for staff employed by the 50 pilot agencies. Pay restoration commenced in April 2019 with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000. Any outstanding balance would be paid in two equal amounts in 2020 and 2021, if due.

The agreement reached at the WRC noted that some of the organisations (approximately 250) which did not form part of the pilot phase are also likely to have pay restoration issues. It stated that a process of engagement to address this would commence in 2019.

Since late 2019, there was a number of meetings between the parties at the WRC, in relation to this next phase. The HSE have been costing this next phase of pay restoration and engagement has been taking place with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding a proposal to resolve these pay restoration issues.

I can confirm that following engagement at the Workplace Relations Commission in early December, the parties reached an agreement. A payment arrangement consisting of three phases was agreed with the first two payments to be made in 2021.