Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
625. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost for 2023 and 2024 of delivering pay parity between section 38 and section 39 staff, contracted by his Department through section 39 organisations. [46718/23]
View answerNo costings are available on the matter of pay parity. It is worth noting that Section 39 and Section 56 organisations are not public bodies, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
Officials from Department of Health, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the HSE and Tusla attended a WRC process (16 October 2023) following similar engagements with trade unions representing section 39 and section 56 bodies over recent months. Following productive engagements at WRC, Industrial action that was due to commence on the 17th of October was averted.
The process culminated in an offer being made to the trade unions. The Departments have committed to a significant increase of investment in the sector relating to pay amounting to an 8% increase, phased as:
3% from 1 April 2023
Additional 2% from 1 Nov 2023
And further 3% from 1 March 2024.
Departments have also committed to talks after any future public sector agreement.
The Departments have proactively engaged with the WRC process to ensure the stability and sustainability of services for the benefit of those who rely on these essential services and the workers who are committed to providing quality services.
The agreement, which unions have indicated will be put to their members, proposes an 8% increase in pay, delivered in three phases, with the first phase backdated to the 1st April 2023. The full year cost of the pay increases is €85.6m.
Although we are not the employers, the Departments are aware that staff employed across the hundreds of funded organisations have been employed using a multiplicity of terms and conditions, including different rates of remuneration and are dependent on Government for funding.
