David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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703. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the total health budget allocated to section 38 and section 39 organisations for the years 2018 to 2023, broken down by total Section 38 cost and Section 39 cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35039/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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This PQ relates to the HSE funding relationship with s38 and S39 agencies and therefore they are best placed to answer. Can we request for DoH to be copied on the response, please. similar PQ already referred PQ Ref: 34586/23

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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704. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the portion of HSE spend on section 38 and section 39 organisations that covers pay; the total HSE spending on funding such organisations in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35040/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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705. To ask the Minister for Health to outline what modelling has been done to cost equalising pay for workers who work for the HSE with those who work for section 38 and section 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35041/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that I acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and their 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.

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. Follow up engagements took place at the Workplace Relations Commission on 15 May 2023 & on the 28of June 2023.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.