Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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With the transfer of responsibility for the provision of disability services to my Department, I would like to acknowledge the important role of Section 39 organisations and employees in the health sector.

Although the Deputy’s question relates specifically to employees of Section 39 agencies who provide disability services to the community, this reply necessarily draws attention to the cross sectoral issue of pay adjustments affecting a number of Government Departments and aegis bodies providing funding to the Community and Voluntary sector, and cannot be considered in isolation.

The Government recently committed to a process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations. Matters relating to pay adjustments for these organisations have since been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission, and the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have agreed to attend in an exploratory capacity.

While the Government has committed to a process, it should be noted that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run. Accordingly, the terms and conditions of Section 39 employees are ultimately a matter for the employer and employee to negotiate.