Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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722. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a petition (details supplied); the steps he will take on foot of it; if he will ensure there is an end to pay disparity across the section 39 organisations; if he will implement a multi-annual, sustainable funding model for voluntary organisations; and if he will review the Health Act 2004. [31109/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the key role that Section 39 organisations and staff have 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.

On 17 April, officials from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla met with union representatives under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. This engagement sought to understand and explore the scope of the unions' claim for pay rises for Community and Voluntary sector workers. A follow up engagement took place at the Workplace Relations Commission on 15 May. A further engagement is due to take place at the WRC in the coming weeks. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.

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