Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with support from the Department of Health, the HSE and Tusla attended a number of engagements with trade unions under the auspices of the WRC over recent months.

That process culminated in an offer being made to unions. The 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. A commitment to re-engage with trade union representatives following any further public sector pay agreement was also offered.

This combined offer was not accepted by trade union representatives, and it is disappointing that their members were not afforded the opportunity to vote on whether they wished to accept the 5% increase in pay funding.

The Unions have balloted for industrial action and have advised they intend to strike from the 17th of October (2023).

Any industrial action will impact negatively on service users and the Departments urge all parties to work on resolving any disputes through the appropriate forums, in the interests of users of these services.

Government remains committed to working with the unions to resolve these matters.

While Government has engaged in this process, it is worth noting that Section 39 and Section 56 organisations are privately owned and operated, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in those organisations are ultimately between the employer and their employee. The Government is not the employer for any of these staff.

The Government recognises the important role that section 39 and section 56 organisations and their staff play in our health and social care sectors. They continue to have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities, vulnerable children and older people. Government have a clear interest to ensure the stability and sustainability of services for the benefit of those who rely on these essential services and the workers who are committed to providing quality services. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.