I wish to raise a serious issue that has escalated in recent weeks, although it has been ongoing for more than four years in Gaoth Dobhair.
Áras Ghaoth Dobhair, a 41 bed care of the elderly community nursing unit, was established in 2004. It is funded by the HSE with contributions from Údarás na Gaeltachta and people and businesses locally. The vast majority of funding, however, comes from the HSE. One bed is private while the rest are funded by the HSE, which also pays all of the running costs and has two nominees on the board of directors, while the director of nursing is seconded from the HSE. The problem for the facility is that the workers in Áras Ghaoth Dobhair are not treated similarly to employees in nursing homes in the public sector.
The argument made by the HSE is that the centre is not a HSE centre, it is community-run, something we all understand. Nearly everything paid for by the centre such as the staff, food, toilet rolls and disinfectants is funded by the HSE. However, the differential in payments between what staff receive in this centre and a HSE-run facility a couple of miles away is massive. The majority of the staff have decided not to accept these conditions any longer and have embarked on work stoppages. The first took place at the beginning of last month after talks broke down between management and staff representatives. Earlier this week they were again involved in a two-day stoppage. This boils down to a number of problems. First, there is a problem with pay and conditions but primarily pay. The discrepancy between the basic rate of pay for a carer in this centre compared with any of the HSE-run centres in County Donegal is approximately €6. I am informed that no overtime or unsocial hours allowance is paid in the centre and that there are no pension rights or sick leave arrangements. However, the centre is almost exclusively funded by the HSE.
I seek the intervention of the Minister for Health and Children in the dispute. The staff are clear that their issue is not with the board of management of Áras Ghaoth Dobhair. The members of its board of management were the visionaries who came up with the idea of having a 41-bed unit in Gaoth Dobhair which is located in the centre of the Gaeltacht and provides an excellent service for the elderly of the district and neighbouring communities. The issue is with the HSE. This model of private nursing home has been created in order that the HSE will not be obliged to pay the wages or provide for the conditions that members of staff of HSE-run centres receive or enjoy. Therefore, this issue pertains to driving down wages and conditions and the representatives will no longer stand for it. I have spoken to the workers on the picket line and they are determined to see this through. This is a source of great anxiety for the workers, patients, the board of management and, I am sure, the HSE. No one desires this dispute, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. A way should be found to enable HSE representatives to negotiate with staff representatives to reach a compromise. This is all about compromise; both sides must find some common ground on the issue, although I understand the Government's difficulties in respect of the country's current financial problems.
The matter has been brought to the Labour Court which has made a number of recommendations that would incur a financial cost on the employers. I am informed the employers will not agree to fulfil these recommendations on issues such as sick pay, premium pay and pension schemes. They have told the staff representatives that they will not honour the Labour Court decision. Moreover, even at that point, the staff representatives were not satisfied that this was the middle ground required. Consequently, there is a need for intervention. I hope the Minister can show experience and provide leadership on the issue.