Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2280. To ask the Minister for Health if it is her intention to deliver pay equality for workers in Section 39 organisations to bring their remuneration in line with their counterparts working in the public service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20057/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Following lengthy negotiations under the auspices of the Workforce Relations Commission (WRC) an unprecedented funding agreement was reached in March 2025 which provided for a 9.25% pay increase for up to 40,000 community and voluntary workers equivalent to the Public Sector Pay agreement 2024-2026, a deal that also included an automatic link to all future public sector pay agreements to match all future pay increases.

The agreement applies to the pay of workers in organisations grant funded under Section 39 (Health Act 2004), Section 56 (Child and Family Agency Act 2013), Section 10 (Housing Act 1988) and Section 40 (Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023). These workers are employed in community and voluntary organisations that are not public bodies.

Along with the October 2023 Agreement which provided for an 8% pay increase, this amounts to a 17.25% pay funding increase over a 3½ year period.

This new agreement is backdated to October 2024 with phased pay increases to be applied in 2025 and 2026.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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2281. To ask the Minister for Health if home care workers employed by community and voluntary sector organisations and registered charities will be included in any moves to deliver parity between workers in this sector and their counterparts in the public service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20058/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Following lengthy negotiations under the auspices of the Workforce Relations Commission (WRC) an unprecedented funding agreement was reached in March 2025 which provided for a 9.25% pay increase for up to 40,000 community and voluntary workers equivalent to the Public Sector Pay agreement 2024-2026, a deal that also included an automatic link to all future public sector pay agreements to match all future pay increases.

The agreement applies to the pay of workers in organisations grant funded under Section 39 (Health Act 2004), Section 56 (Child and Family Agency Act 2013), Section 10 (Housing Act 1988) and Section 40 (Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023). These workers are employed in community and voluntary organisations that are not public bodies. It is only organisations in these categories that are within the scope of the agreement.

Funding for services commissioned through tendering arrangements are not covered in this agreement as these are separately contracted with relevant providers. Any related considerations must be dealt with through existing procurement processes. The current tendering arrangement for home support services is due for renewal in August 2025 and organisations will be given an opportunity to input into a rate review.