Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1387. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure pay parity for employees of Section 39 organisations providing healthcare services with comparable workers in the HSE. [16510/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I would like to acknowledge 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.

A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022.

While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.

The Department notes that this is a cross-sectoral issue and cannot be taken in isolation.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1388. To ask the Minister for Health the number of lactation specialist roles and-or public health nurses with a specialisation in lactation that it is planned to establish and fill in each LHO in CHO4 during 2023. [16511/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1389. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase the staffing and locations for the provision of lactation services in each LHO in CHO4. [16512/23]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.