Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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642. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure pay parity for section 39 organisations who provide vital dementia services and standardise rates of pay for critical home care workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29208/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In 2023 the existing competitive tender system for the contracting of home support was replaced with an Authorisation Scheme. It provides for fixed pricing and a common framework for the delivery of Home Support Services.

Prior to the Authorisation Scheme there was a significant administrative burden on the HSE and service providers to manage legacy rates; and an unfairness in the system where some providers were being paid rates from 2012, or 2016. This was raised as a key issue to Strategic Workforce Advisory Group by stakeholders, including the community and voluntary and private sectors. To address this and other important considerations raised by the Group, I secured an increased rate for home support services from August 2023.

The Authorisation Scheme delivers on commitments for sectoral reform such as payment for travel time for home support providers, paying carers the National Living Wage at a minimum, and bringing legacy rates in line with the new, revised rate of funding of €31 per hour for standard home support.

A separate process of engagement is underway to examine the pay of workers in Section 39 funded organisations. While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 funded 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.