Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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1205. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of his/her Department’s engagement with the WRC to restore pay parity between Section 38 and Section 39 workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30158/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Government welcomed the overwhelming approval from trade union members of the unprecedented agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in March, to fund Health and Social Care and Homeless sector employers providing services on behalf of the state. With this agreement we have achieved a workable outcome that improves the ability of vital organisations to actively recruit and retain staff and supports the sustainability of these sectors. Committing to a link to future public sector pay agreements also provides security for these workers and their employers.

The agreement represents a 9.25% pay increase to their workers – an increase equivalent to the current Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026 - and recognises that staff in these sectors should be fairly paid for the vital work they do.

The offer is backdated to start from October 2024 with implementation over a two-year period to October 2026, by which point a successor to Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026 is anticipated.

This parity of treatment is an important step forward. In funding terms, the deal amounts to an increase of c. €140m per annum in additional investment for these organisations, to support delivery of their services and supports. My Department secured c. €30m in funding in budget 2025 to cover the estimated cost of the agreement for 2024 (backdated) and 2025.

Following overwhelming acceptance of the agreement by unions members in May. Agencies are making arrangements to ensure funding adjustments to relevant organisations are managed as efficiently as possible.

It is important to note that the Departments are not the employers, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately determined between the employer and their employees. Organisations impacted by the new pay agreement should apply to their relevant funding bodies without delay, in order for their workers to receive the backdated pay increases as soon as possible.