I spoke to the Tánaiste previously on the need to eliminate the disparity in pay levels for employees of section 38 and section 39 organisations and those employed directly by the State, such as by the HSE. People with similar qualifications and providing similar services on behalf of our State should not have such a differential in their pay. This pay gap issue needs to be resolved without further delay. In my own constituency, organisations such as Enable Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association have experienced and continue to experience serious difficulties in recruiting and retaining employees who provide vital and essential services for persons with a disability or children with additional needs. Those children and adults need the appropriate supports and services now. Far too often people in need of early intervention do not, unfortunately, get access to relevant therapies in a timely manner. Long-term solutions are needed now to resolve such recruitment and retention problems and ensure services are provided for those in need in a timely manner.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue of section 38 and section 39 organisations and parity. We are close to full employment in this economy and one of the biggest challenges in the health service has been, notwithstanding funding being provided, recruiting sufficient staff in certain categories. More than 28,000 extra people have been employed in the health service in past four years and that has put pressure on the agencies and on the section 39 bodies in particular. That has been compounded through pay issues although there has been some degree of resolution to those. There has been an acknowledgement in the current pay rounds that the agreements that have been arrived at would deal very quickly with the section 39 staff as well to improve parity. I take the Deputy's point about the longer term issue.

We are over time.

He is absolutely correct. It cannot just drag on year to year and a fundamental reappraisal is required, in my view.