Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2019
331. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the reason the Department has not paid the gratuity due to certain home help workers in lieu of pension payments in line with recommendations of the Labour Court to date. [21829/19]
View answer419. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when the gratuity payment due to certain home help workers will be made in lieu of pension payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21828/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 419 together.
The Deputy is referring to Home Help workers who are employed by voluntary providers of home help services which are funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004.
As these home help workers are not employed by the HSE, the HSE and the Department have no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff including any pension arrangements.
A joint working group was established, as agreed as part of the 2015 Lansdowne Road talks, to consider a number of issues in relation to section 39 organisations. Unfortunately it was not possible to reach an agreement between the parties on the issue of gratuity payments.
