Many of us met advocates from the Irish Wheelchair Association yesterday. One of the issues they raised was the loss of personal assistants, PAs, and the difficulty in trying to get more. Some of this has to do with pay parity and pensions for workers in sections 38, 39, 56 and 10 bodies in the charity and voluntary sector. These skilled workers are voting with their feet and leaving in their droves, while others are not choosing to enter the sector. For people without PAs, it means losing their independence or not having it in the first place. For some, it will mean having to enter nursing homes instead of staying in their own homes. Will the Minister work with all of his colleagues to address this issue, which is coming down the line and is being raised not just by the Irish Wheelchair Association but by everyone in the voluntary and charity sector?

There is an issue, one accentuated by the fact that the HSE has recruited approximately 20,000 people in the past three years. While that recruitment is welcome, it has a consequence, especially given the tightness in the labour market and the shortage of people with the necessary skills and experience. We are examining the sections 38, 39, 56 and 10 issue. In the case of hospices, the Government has decided that they are to become section 38 bodies. They are currently section 39 ones. Other section 39 bodies have recently been going through a Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, process. I have met a number of them directly. Many of my colleagues have also raised this matter. Many of the groups cannot compete at this point in time in terms of recruitment and retention. This is an issue that the Government is aware of and is examining.