Departmental Expenditure: 29 Jul 2025: Written answers (KildareStreet.com)

Written answers

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Department of Health

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2577. To ask the Minister for Health the reason new payment arrangements have yet to be made to section 39 workers despite the fact that there is an agreement in place and approved by Government to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40974/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the much valued work of Section 39 workers.

As you are aware, agreement was reached in the Workplace Relations Commissions on the 10th of March 2025, between ICTU unions and relevant Government Departments, to fund Health and Social Care and Homeless sector employers for a 9.25% pay increase, equivalent to the Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026.

The 2025 agreement provided for pay increases as follows:

2.25% increase backdated to 1st Oct 2024
1% increase from 1st April 2025
2% increase from 1st November 2025
2% increase from 1st April 2026
2% increase from 1st October 2026

The HSE began the process of engaging with eligible organisations in May this year to enable payments to be made. Organisations are required to make applications to the HSE for the additional funding required, and the HSE needs to verify the information submitted before additional funding can be provided. However, organisations involved in previous payments are not being required to submit an additional application, which will speed up the process.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2578. To ask the Minister for Health the reason incremental increases have not been paid to section 39 workers at all for 2025; the reasons for this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40975/25]