Public Sector Pay
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-17
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Norma Foley (FF), Kerry

I reiterate that this is and has been recognised by all concerned, including the workers the Deputy referred to, as a landmark step by Government that ensures these workers will be automatically included for any general round increases in any future public sector pay agreements. That is very significant in the first instance. In the second instance, regarding the specific issues raised by the Deputy, an exercise is currently under way, which was agreed to at the time, to get a further, clearer and more transparent insight into the issues within the sector because there are a variety of different issues in the sector. That exercise is under way and nearing completion. It is a data-gathering exercise and the outcome of that exercise can and will inform targeted measures on the low pay issues that affect the long-term sustainability of services. The arrangements relating to the workers the Deputy referred to are arrangements through statutory grant aid arrangements. Funding for services in those circumstances is part of that data-gathering exercise.
It is important to say as well that the organisations funded under section 39, while supported by the HSE, are independent entities. They are not public bodies and their staff are not public servants. The terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately determined by the employer and their employees, notwithstanding the body of work that the State is doing and the commitments that we have given regarding the automatic linkage to public pay.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-17