Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she intends to put adequate funding in place to ensure that the business case submitted to the Citizens' Information Board by the National Advocacy Service in relation to pay, grades and other conditions, on foot of a Labour Court recommendation, is undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25425/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am very aware of and wish to acknowledge the important advocacy services that the National Advocacy Service provides to adults with disabilities across the country, helping to ensure their wishes and preferences are heard in decisions that affect their everyday lives.

As you are aware, the National Advocacy Service is a company limited by guarantee, and a registered charity. It is funded to provide services on behalf of Citizens Information Board. The Citizens Information Board in turn is funded by my Department.

I am aware of the ongoing industrial relations issues concerning pay, grading and other employment conditions, including the recent Labour Court recommendation - which issued last January.

I understand from the CIB, arising from the Labour Court recommendation, that the National Advocacy Service submitted a business case to the CIB with proposals on how to deal with these issues. This was submitted to CIB on 10th May last. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that time had to be given to CIB to consider this business case.

As part of these considerations, I understand that CIB is actively engaging with the National Advocacy Service. The CIB held a facilitated meeting with the National Advocacy Service, along with Kevin Duffy, former Chairman of the Labour Court, acting in an independent capacity, on 30th May last to discuss a path forward to resolve these issues. There has been ongoing discussion involving all parties since that date. These are continuing this week.

My Department is fully supportive of a facilitated engagement between parties as the best way to resolve these issues and we have communicated this support to CIB.

I would strongly encourage SIPTU, NAS management and CIB to continue to engage in the independent facilitation process which has been proposed. I am confident that an agreement can be reached through this engagement.

If, following this process, a request for an increased funding is submitted to my Department my officials will consider it carefully in a constructive manner. We will also need to engage with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with a view to determining any budgetary implications.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.