Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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411. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the pay of staff working with vulnerable children in Section 56 organisations will be restored; if these staff can be given parity with staff working in Section 38 and 39 organisations; if the service-level agreement funding model for Section 56 organisations can be reviewed to allow for multi-annual funding; if Section 56 staff can be given the same pension rights and entitlements as granted to their Section 38 and 39 colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45925/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I am very conscious of the impact the community and voluntary sector have on improving outcomes for children, young people and families all over Ireland. To support these activities, additional funding was provided in Budget 2022 to enable Tusla to increase its supports to the community and voluntary sector.

The Minister for Health is best placed to respond on arrangements in place for organisations funded under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004.  Regarding Section 56 service providers, Section 56(14) of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 stipulates that 'an arrangement under this section shall not give rise to an employment relationship between a service provider, its employees or agents on the one hand and the Agency on the other'.  Therefore, Section 56 service providers operate independently of my Department and of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of their own employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed. The remuneration of these staff is a matter for these organisations.

There are currently no plans to review the terms of Section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. However, the Government greatly appreciates the valuable work of the community and voluntary sector in assisting Tusla with its statutory remit for family support. My Department is determined to strengthen early intervention and family support services through the proactive expansion of services that have strong outcomes for children and their families. 

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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412. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that those workers in Section 56 agencies, who were subject to the same pay cuts as Section 39 agencies, who have not had their pay restored, will receive a much-needed pay increase in line with inflation and the cost of living. [45942/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I am conscious of the impact the community and voluntary sector have on improving outcomes for children, young people and families all over Ireland. To support these activities, additional funding was provided in Budget 2022 to enable Tusla to increase its supports to the community and voluntary sector.

Section 56(14) of the Child and family Agency Act 2013 stipulates that 'an arrangement under this section shall not give rise to an employment relationship between a service provider, its employees or agents on the one hand and the Agency on the other'.  Section 56 service providers, therefore, operate independently of my Department and of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of their own employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed. The remuneration of these staff is therefore a matter for these organisations.