Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2015
490. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with section 39 funded organisations to discuss the opportunity of pay restoration, in light of the upcoming budget, as their members have experienced a decline in working conditions, after a continuous cycle of budget cuts, while demand for their services has increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33419/15]
View answerSection 39 of the Health Act 2004 provides for the HSE to provide assistance to a body that provides a service similar or ancillary to a service that the Health Service Executive (HSE) may provide.
Employees of Section 39 organisations are not public servants. They are not included in the HSE employment control ceiling, are not bound by the Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales and are not members of a public service pension scheme.
Section 39 organisations provide a broad range of services and these are governed by Service Level Arrangements with the HSE. In that regard, funding of these organisations is a matter for the HSE in the first instance.
The HSE has submitted an estimate of its proposed expenditure for 2016. As discussions on budgetary issues are ongoing between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, I am not in a position to comment on the outcome of the process at this stage.
