Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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396. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the pay differential between professionals such as occupational therapists and speech and language teachers in an organisation (details supplied) and the HSE; the starting pay for occupational therapists when they enter the HSE and the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20339/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Salary scales for all public health sector grades including those that the Deputy is enquiring after are available to view publicly online here www.gov.ie/en/circular/664e5-department-of-health-consolidated-salary-scales-circular-32023/

Under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides financial assistance to organisations, including Enable Ireland, 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, however these 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.