John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to address the situation regarding both the needs of clients of the National Advocacy Service and the rights of National Advocacy Service workers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26059/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I want to state that I value the important advocacy services that the National Advocacy Service (NAS) provides to adults with disabilities across the country and I am fully supportive of fair pay for these workers.

The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) is a Company Limited by Guarantee, and a registered charity. It is funded to provide services on behalf of the Citizens Information Board (CIB). CIB, in turn, is funded by my Department.

I understand that the Board of NAS, and CIB, following consultation with my Department, agreed to implement a Labour Court recommendation in order to address pay divergences and to ensure that employees of NAS are paid the same as comparable grades in other CIB funded companies.

Facilitated discussions on the implementation of this recommendation, involving NAS management and SIPTU and led by former Labour Court Chair Kevin Duffy, commenced in June.

I am happy to confirm that an agreement was reached in July, which included immediate measures to address pay divergences in NAS and an independent process to address other outstanding claims regarding role comparability between NAS and the Citizens Information Service.

I have been informed that NAS SIPTU members voted to accept this agreement in August and that NAS is now moving to implement the measures agreed.

I trust this clarifies your query.