Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if discussions are expected regarding the Section 39 workers pay (details supplied); if this issue can be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44557/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 169 together.

The sustainability and stability of service providers in the health and social care sector is a concern for Government. I recognise that the ability of voluntary organisations to pay their staff, and to effectively deliver quality and safe services, is highly dependent on state funding. The Government is therefore committed to playing its part to resolving this issue.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Health made a combined offer, in July, of a 5% pay funding increase to employer bodies.

This offer was in line with those accepted by community and voluntary staff in other sectors. The offer to workers in this sector amounted to a 5% increase in funding for pay effective from November 2023, with 3% backdated to April 2023.

This combined offer was not accepted by trade union representatives and following a ballot of members, unions representing some Section 39 and Section 56 workers announced that their members in a selection of employer organisations would take indefinite strike action from 17th October.

Similar considerations arise in respect of other sectors across Government adding to the complexity in seeking to resolve matters in any specific sector. All involved parties want to see a meaningful resolution that improves sustainability and the ability of these vital organisations to actively recruit and retain staff.

I recognise that a solution to the current situation will involve much needed additional investment into these sectors and my Department continues to engage in on-going dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Any industrial action will impact negatively on the people who use these services, and I continue to urge representative bodies to return to the negotiation process, to avoid industrial action and the negative impacts this will have on service users.

In the meantime the Departments are working with the relevant agencies (Tusla/HSE) who are engaged in contingency planning with the employer organisations that will be affected by industrial action, so that any impact on those who depend on these essential services can be managed to the greatest extent possible.