Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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236. To ask the Minister for Health if he will engage with section 39 healthcare workers and ensure concerns with pay and conditions is speedily resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26857/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides financial assistance to organisations to provide services similar or supplementary to a service that the HSE may provide.  The Department of Health acknowledges the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector.  They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.

However, Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run and their terms and conditions of employment, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between the employer and the employee.  These organisations were not and are not party to the Public Service Agreements.  It is not a matter for the Government to set pay rates in respect of these workers.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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237. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update of the roll-out of the pandemic bonus payment to healthcare workers with respect to his Department's responsibilities in the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26858/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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HSE officials advise that payment of the pandemic recognition payment to eligible HSE and Section 38 staff is currently in progress, with some cohorts having received the payment and the remainder being processed through local payroll. 

Regarding eligible employees of other organisations covered by the Government decision, my Department shall shortly arrange publication of information and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff.