The important role that Section 39 and section 56 organisations and their staff play in our health and social care sectors is greatly appreciated and acknowledged. They continue to have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities, vulnerable children and older people.
I am aware that staff recruitment and retention challenges are affecting the sustainability and stability of section 39 and section 56 organisations and their ability to deliver services on behalf of the State. These challenges are mirrored in many of the health and social care professions across the country. The sustainability of the sector is a concern for both the Department and its agencies and we recognise that the ability of these organisations to pay their staff is highly dependent on state funding. Similar considerations arise in respect of other sectors across Government adding to the complexity in seeking to resolve matters for any specific sector.
Officials from my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and Tusla attended a number of engagements with trade unions under the auspices of the Work Relations Committee over recent months. That process culminated in an offer being made to unions. The offer was in line with those accepted by community and voluntary staff in other sectors. The offer to workers in this sector amounted to a 5% increase in funding for pay effective from November 2023, with 3% backdated to April 2023. A commitment to re-engage with trade union representatives following any further public sector pay agreement was also offered.
This combined offer was not accepted by trade union representatives and the announcement yesterday of the decision to take strike action by some organisations follows ballots carried out by their unions.
Any industrial action will impact negatively on service users and I urge all parties to work on resolving this dispute through the available channels, in the interests of users of these services. As Government reflects on the implications the strike announcement, relevant agencies have been asked to engage in contingency planning with the relevant employer organisations so that any impact on those who depend on these essential services can be managed to the greatest extent possible.
Government remains committed to working with the unions to resolve these matters. While Government has engaged in this process, it is worth noting that Section 39 and Section 56 organisations are privately owned and operated, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in those organisations are ultimately between the employer and their employee.
My Department is engaging in on-going dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Health Service Executive in relation to the Budget 2024. These discussions are still progressing and until they are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the level of available funding to address this or any other area that could benefit from increased funding next year.
