TD highlights pay issue for Cork care home staff

A Cork TD has raised the issue of an organisation providing dementia care which may lose staff due to it not being included in recent pay agreements for the sector.

This year, agreement was reached following discussions led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) addressing the funding required to bring the pay of non-public sector workers into line with current and future public service pay agreements. This would provide for an increase in funding of 9.25% on a phased basis.

Fianna Fáil TD Seamus McGrath said in the Dáil this week that staff in certain former ‘section 39’ organisations, because of a complicated and complex funding model, “have not been brought in under the pay agreements”, which he described as “deeply unfair”.

Example

He gave the example of St Luke’s Home in his area of Mahon - a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation providing essential care to residents in Cork. “It provides long-term care with a palliative approach and specialises in dementia. It has over 128 beds,” said Mr McGrath. “It also provides short-term respite care and day services, as well as other services. It is a critical organisation.

“Unfortunately, its more than 200 staff members have not benefited from the WRC agreements in respect of pay and conditions. That is a significant issue for the home. The board of directors has described it as an existential crisis. The home is potentially going to lose staff.”

Junior minister Kieran O’Donnell acknowledged the work done by these organisations, saying there will be a data gathering exercise to support the application of low pay provisions in the future, and urging Mr McGrath to raise the issue of specific organisations directly with the minister for public expenditure and reform.