Mattie McGrath demands restored pay for Section 39 service staff
Mattie McGrath raised funding concerns for independent not-for-profit Section 39 organisations and urged the restoration of payments to staff, warning that services are becoming unsustainable. He pressed the Minister for Health over the lack of a government strategy and inadequate funding, and highlighted impacts across disability, mental health, respite and voluntary services.
Restoration of payments
He said he had placed a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health on the need to restore and pay staff in Section 39 organisations. He complimented Senator John Dolan, CEO of the Disability Federation of Ireland, and acknowledged the vital work done by the sector.
Scope of services at risk
He accepted the view that the independent Section 39 sector provides essential services for thousands of people with disabilities and also delivers care for the elderly, youth services, substance abuse support, suicide prevention, social inclusion, education and community development. He referenced examples raised in the debate, including services noted by Deputy Collins such as Meads and Wheels.
Warnings from the sector
He recalled evidence to the Rochester Health Committee earlier in the year, where chairs including Dr W. Hattie described the services as a "house that is falling down". He reported that independent voluntary disability providers say they operate without a government strategy for their role or adequate funding and that the situation is already unsustainable.
Impact on workforce and families
He saluted volunteers and board members who seek additional funds to top up wages and warned staff are leaving for HSE jobs that offer pensionable positions. He described cases of families unable to secure full residential places, the strain on carers' health, and criticised Deputy Minister McGrath as offering promises without action, saying the sector cannot wait for change.
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I have been raising this about my colleagues' issue of behalf of the HSC and employees' staff in my own constituency for some time now. I am delighted to see that Senator John Dolan, who is CEO of the Disability Federation of Ireland, is in the chamber and I compliment him and his organization for all the work they do. In fact, I have placed the parliamentary question on the matter to the Minister for Health about the need to restore and pay to staff section 39 organisations. I accept the view put forward by the motion that the independent not-for-profit section 39 sector provides vital services for many thousands of people with disabilities across Ireland and that section 39 also provides health care to the elderly, youth, substance abuse, suicide prevention, social inclusion, education, community development and many, many others like Meads and Wheels as Deputy Collins referred to in many areas like that. There can be no doubt that this is a sector that needs our support and our assistance and they can't wait for it. More broadly speaking, I remain deeply concerned about the provision of funding, not just to the workers but to the services infrastructure, especially in the area of disabilities and mental health, Minister. The voluntary sector and disabilities were in before the Rochester Health Committee earlier this year and the chairs behind me are Dr W. Hattie. They described the services as a house that is falling down, Minister. They said that while the scaffolding is being provided, the house could still fall and that is entirely unacceptable, Minister. The independent voluntary disability service providers said they operate in the absence of a government strategy for their role and future and also in the absence of adequate funding for the services. The warning is that this will soon be unsustainable and is there already. Those impacted because of the uncertain future are the people who rely on residential respite and day services and who deserve to live full lives as citizens in the state with the support they need. I want to also salute the many volunteers, the many board members of not-for-profit organisations who give gallant service and keep those services going with their staff. And they have to beg and scrounge to do church gate connections, God knows what, to try and top up the wages. This is of the people, by the people, and then what's happening? People leave those jobs and go into the HSE job because they have pensionable and they have everything else. So we're abandoning these people, the most needy people of all. And I have countless cases, like others said, of people who can't get a full residential place for her son because of funding. And parents and other people are just in danger of their own lives because of adult children or adult people now just with lots of difficulties, you know, emotionally and mentally. And the dangers to people's health is another crisis. So I do believe you, Minister, have done your best here. But I know Deputy Minister McGrath has gone. He's all promises and no action, and that's the problem. And when he decided the House, he was great. But I'm so disappointed with him as he said, for paying lip service to this area here, it needs to change. We need to look after these people. Thank you.
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