Youth Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (1320)

Gerald Nash

Question:

1320. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to calls by various section 56 bodies for additional resources to ensure pay restoration for staff employed by bodies contracted by the State to provide vital services to children and young persons; if his attention has been drawn to anomalies between the treatment of section 56 bodies and certain organisations that are engaged by the State through service level agreements under section 39 of the Health Act 2004 in respect of the question of pay restoration, arising from an agreement reached between the HSE and trade unions at the Workplace Relations Commission in 2018; if he plans to request additional resources from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in budget 2023 to support the process of pay restoration for workers in section 56 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39641/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth I highly value the work of the community and voluntary sector across the country that provide services funded by Tusla under Section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. I am extremely conscious of the impact these organisations have on improving outcomes for children, young people and families all over Ireland.

The Minister for Health is best placed to respond on arrangements in place for organisations funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004.

Under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, funds service providers in over 600 Community and Voluntary sector bodies to deliver services on its behalf. The service providers operate independently of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed. The remuneration of these staff is a matter for these organisations as employers. Section 56(14) stipulates that 'an arrangement under this section shall not give rise to an employment relationship between a service provider, its employees or agents on the one hand and the Agency on the other'.

Neither my Department nor Tusla is the employer of staff of organisations providing services and these staff are not public sector employees. In this regard, the remuneration of these staff is a matter for their own employers to determine.

My Department is determined to strengthen early intervention and family support services through the proactive expansion of services that have strong outcomes for children and their families. The Government greatly appreciates the valuable work of the community and voluntary sector to assist Tusla with its statutory remit for family support.

In Budget 2022, additional funding was provided to enable Tusla to increase its supports to the community and voluntary sector.

Negotiations for Budget 2023 are ongoing at this time and as Minister with responsibility for this area I will seek a level of resources that will allow Tusla to adequately support the Community and Voluntary sector.