Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1526. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps that he intends taking to ensure that disability organisations funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2007 can afford to pay similar wages and salaries to those operating under section 38 of the Act in view of the similar work they do; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42108/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.
Under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides financial assistance to organisations to provide services similar or supplementary to a service that the HSE may provide. However, Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and staff in these organisations are not public servants. Their terms and conditions of employment, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between the employer and the employee.
There is no scope to currently re-examine the level of funding the HSE provides to these organisations.
