Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
491. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what actions he has taken to address the staffing issues in disability services, including the recruitment and retention of staff. [51944/23]
View answerI am acutely aware of the impact of staffing issues within the Disability Services sector and am wholly committed to ensuring the continuation and growth of Disability Services, in-line with population needs.
Following the Capacity Review undertaken by the Department of Health (DOH) in 2021, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s (DCEDIY's) Disability Action Plan was approved by Government in July of this year, and is currently being prepared for publication. The Action Plan underpins Government commitment to the expansion of services for people with disabilities and aims to progressively address unmet need by enhancing and reforming services, including through the creation of additional disability service posts and recruitment to these positions. Government is committed to ensuring the expansion of Disability Services, and DCEDIY have secured funding to deliver on this commitment in 2024.
While recruitment and retention of staff is a challenge across the sector overall, a significant priority for Government is filling vacancies within the 91 Children’s Development Network Teams (CDNTs). The Progressing Disability Services (PDS) Roadmap establishes a set of priority workforce actions to address current vacancies and expand recruitment across children’s Disability Services throughout 2023-2026.
To support the supply into and retention of staff within Disability Services, under the leadership of Minister Rabbitte an interdepartmental workforce steering group has also been established, focused on examining and directing efforts to address immediate and longer term staffing needs.
Beginning in May 2023, the HSE implemented a recruitment pause for a number of grades across the HSE and S38 service providers, to ensure that it can sustainably provide services within its existing resources. The core focus of the pause is to protect controlled growth and ensure the HSE has an adequate financial control environment. My Department has engaged consistently with the HSE to ensure the pause does not unduly affect the provision of existing Disability Services or strategic initiatives to support targeted expansion across key services.
The HSE have agreed to a derogation for Disability Services whereby essential staff across a number of grades can be replaced on a “one for one” basis. The derogation applies to Disability Services funded replacement posts and new development posts in the HSE and Section 38 agencies, in regard to the following staff categories: Medical/Dental, Nursing, HSCP, Support Staff Grades, Other Patient and Client Care. A process for application of the derogation has been prescribed by the HSE and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
Staff recruitment and retention challenges are affecting the sustainability and stability of section 39 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. My department has proactively engaged in a WRC process in recent months to ensure the sustainability of these organisations, for the benefit of those who rely on these essential services, and the workers who are committed to providing quality services. Following intensive talks, the parties to the process, including the DCEDIY and DoH, reached an agreement on funding for pay with Unions representing Section 39, Section 56 and Section 10 organisations.
The agreement reached committed to a significant increase of investment in the sectors amounting to an 8% increase in funding for pay in Section 39, 56, and 10 organisations. On 22 Nov unions informed the Departments that their members voted overwhelmingly to accept the agreement. The agreement reached will benefit a great number of staff providing vital services on behalf of the Government. In addition, agreement was reached to commence a process to facilitate discussions on appropriate further funding increases, having regard to Building Momentum and any successor public sector pay agreement.
The successful recruitment and retention of staff across the Disability Services sector is integral to this sectors continued growth and remains a key priority for me.
