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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Community sector pay restoration

Summary

Deputy Collins says many community and voluntary workers outside direct HSE funding have been excluded from pay restoration and WRC processes, leaving some worse off than in 2008. The Taoiseach says the issue crosses departmental remits and undertakes to compile an update on the affected workers and respond in writing.

I have raised this issue before but I want to raise it again before the recess. Workers in community and voluntary sector posts not in receipt of funding through HSE channels are not technically section 39 organisation workers. I refer to workers in organisations such as local drugs and alcohol task force groups. Such workers have been excluded from pay restoration and WRC processes. In nominal terms, many earn less now than they did in 2008. For example, a regeneration worker in a local community project now earns €5,000 less a year than he or she would have in 2007. I have more case studies here showing how poorly wages compare with pre-2009 levels. Despite the fact that I have submitted a number of parliamentary questions and put a number of questions to Ministers, I have not received clarity. The workers certainly have no clarity as to how and when this issue will be resolved. Terrible disrespect is being shown to this group of workers. The most recent reply I received said that the Department is aware of the issue and is working to resolve it in a timely manner. That is 15 years after the austerity cuts and nine months after the WRC agreement. What measures is the Government taking to ensure that all workers in the voluntary and community sector receive pay restoration and are part of WRC processes?

Comment on this
Simon Harris The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I will try to help because I have heard the Deputy raise this issue in the Dáil before and am conscious that it cuts across the remits of a number of Ministers and Departments. When I was answering on this matter in the Dáil the last time, I quickly became aware that it did not come down to any one Minister. Perhaps my office and I can play a part in trying to compile an update on the timeline for each of the workers impacted for the Deputy because I am conscious that this has been going on for a long time. I will undertake to do that and to revert to the Deputy in writing.

Comment on this

That would be appreciated.

Comment on this