Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
816. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will establish a collective bargaining forum to negotiate pay and conditions of employment across the community and voluntary sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61170/21]
View answerThe mission of my Department is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities - A five year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024, reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting the community and voluntary sector as a whole and addressing some of the burdens faced by service providers, whilst also recognising the reality of finite resources and the need to ensure that available resources are focused on providing effective services.
My Department has no role in setting the terms and conditions, including pay, of workers, which are internal matters for the relevant organisations. Whilst the Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities strategy commits to scoping and developing a sustainable funding model for the sector, there are no commitments in relation to the terms and conditions of such staff which remain a matter for their employer, nor in relation to the establishment of a collective bargaining forum for the sector.
