Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children, Disability and Equality, Claire Kerrane TD, has said Section 39 workers need to see action on pay parity now.

Teachta Kerrane today asked the Tánaiste directly if he would mandate Department officials in negotiations to implement the WRC agreement in full.

Raising the issue in the Dáil, Kerrane said:

“Workers in disability services and GP out-of-hours are among the hardest working health care professionals in the State

“Without their commitment, many of the services relied on by so many simply would not exist.

“Yet, these Section 39 workers are being paid less than their public sector counterparts for doing exactly the same work.

“And not marginally less – but by 15% or more.

“In October 2023, through the WRC the government recognised that workers in the sector were underpaid and committed to ‘fully dealing with this issue’.

“More than a year later, there is still no resolution.

“Talks broke down late last year because it became clear that Government negotiating officials were not given a mandate to actually implement the WRC Agreement and deliver pay parity.

“That is despite clear commitments from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to deliver pay parity in your election manifestos

“The Programme for Government does not mention Section 39 organisations or pay parity at all.

“Tánaiste, will you mandate the Department officials to implement the WRC agreement in full?

“Will you deliver the pay parity for Section 39 workers that you promised?

“The Tánaiste confirmed that engagement in the WRC will be restarted which is welcome but we need to see much speedier action to resolve this injustice quickly.”