Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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612.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the recruitment embargo applies to clerical staff working in the disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24817/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Thank you Deputy for your question.

Since the announcement of the HSE's recruitment pause, and to ensure disability services were not unduly effected, Minister Rabbitte and officials have engaged consistently with the HSE, and in November 2023 announced specific derogations for categories of staff employed across the HSE and Section 38 specialist community-based disability services.

This derogation applies only to the list of grades below, allowing vacancies to be filled as they arise on a strictly one for one basis, to help protect these disability services:

1. Medical staff: grades 1012 and 1538.
2. Domestic staff: grade 4110.
3. Drivers: grade 4737.
4. Service Coordinators and Area managers: grades 6006 and 6024.
5. Family support workers: grade 6416.
6. Day service supervisors: grades 6402 and 6425.
7. Care Assistants: grade 6482.
8. Social Care Workers.
9. Personal Assistants.

My Department recognises that appropriate staffing of disability services is a priority, and remains fully committed to supporting the HSE's work in this area.