Written Answers Nos. 450-469
450. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there have been any changes within his Department at Assistant Secretary-level with responsibility for forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41475/23]
View answerThe senior management team in my Department is led by the Secretary General, supported by a structure of 11 at Assistant Secretary level, each of whom have designated responsibility for specific areas of the Department's work.
My Department has a diverse portfolio which supports our mission in leading, enabling and regulating the agri-food sector in a way that optimises its contribution to social, economic and environmental sustainability.
To successfully deliver on the objectives set out in our Statement of Strategy 2023-2026, the reporting structure is kept under review and staffed in such a manner as to provide opportunities for personal development and growth while also inviting new perspectives within each of the roles. This approach supports the wider Senior Public Service protocol of Assistant Secretary General mobility across Government Departments.
Recently, a number of reassignments were implemented within my Department, and this included a change at Assistant Secretary level in the area with responsibility for forestry. Mr Paul Savage, Assistant Secretary General took up the post in early August.
451. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive payment under the fodder scheme for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41493/23]
View answerMy Department have examined the relevant records and have confirmed that the herd number supplied is not associated with the name supplied and no Fodder Support Scheme 2022 application was received under this herd number.
The Deputy has re-submitted his question with the correct herd details under ePQ 42153/23 and an appropriate response will issue under that ePQ.
453. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish the full list, in tabular form, by vessel name, registered owner, vessel size, quota attached to the vessel, tonnage and port of all participants in the fishing boat decommissioning scheme approved through the Brexit adjustment reserve funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41512/23]
View answerIn March it was announced that 42 vessels had accepted offers made under the Brexit Voluntary Permanent Cessation Scheme. The vessels that accepted offers comprise a mixture of prawn and whitefish trawlers, seine netters, gillnetters, and beam trawl vessels, spread around fishing ports along the coast.
Of the 42 vessels that accepted offers under the Scheme:
• 39 vessels have proceeded with their application.
• 3 vessels have withdrawn their application.
The 39 vessels proceeding have a combined gross tonnage of 6,300 GT representing 80% of the original target of 8,000 Gross Tonnes to be voluntarily withdrawn from the Irish fleet as recommended by the Seafood Taskforce, at a total cost of €60 million.
Of the 39 vessels proceeding:
• 30 vessels have been decommissioned.
• 6 currently being dismantled.
• 3 vessels will be decommissioned during October.
To date, 26 of the 39 vessels have been paid in full, with the other 13 having received their first payment. A total of €50 million has been paid out.
As a number of these vessel owners are yet to complete the process and receive all payments, it would not be appropriate at this point to offer any further segmentation, detail or individual vessel characteristics which may result in the identification of individual applicants.
454. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional supporting measures that he is considering introducing through the Brexit adjustment reserve fund to assist the Irish fishing, aquaculture and processing industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41513/23]
View answerI established the Seafood Sector Task Force in March 2021 to examine the impacts of Brexit/EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on our fishing sector and coastal communities. The Task Force report of October 2021 made 16 recommendations.
To date, under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund (BAR), I have announced 11 schemes with a total budget allocation of €271.3 million, as follows:
• Temporary Tie-Up 2021 Scheme
• Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme 2022 and 2023
• Temporary Tie-Up 2022 Scheme
• Brexit Co-operative Transition Scheme
• Brexit Voluntary Decommissioning Scheme
• Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme
• Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme
• Seafood Capital Processing Support Scheme
• Inshore Marketing Scheme
• Brexit Sustainable Aquaculture Growth Scheme
• Off Register Capacity Buy Out Scheme
Four new schemes have been submitted to the European Commission for State Aid approval. Those schemes are:
1. Brexit Pelagic Fisheries Support Scheme
2. Brexit Fish Processor Transition Scheme
3. Brexit Specific Scallop Fleet Transition Support Scheme
4. Brexit Fisheries Cooperative Transition Scheme 2023
The Brexit Pelagic Fisheries Support Scheme reflects support to the pelagic sector to compensate for the loss of quota, with a focus exclusively on liquidity supports for RSW and Tier 1 and Tier 2 vessels. I estimate that the cost of the scheme, assuming 100% up-take, will amount to some €25.6 million.
The Brexit Fish Processor Transition Scheme is a liquidity scheme for seafood processors, to compensate for losses due to reduced supply of raw material and additional logistical and administration costs through non-tariff barriers which arose due to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement/Brexit. In line with the Task Force recommendations, payments will be capped at €300,000 per applicant, and I estimate a total budget of €12 million.
The Brexit Specific Scallop Fleet Transition Support Scheme is a liquidity scheme that will be restricted to the seven vessels in the scallop fleet. It will compensate the owners of scallop vessels impacted by the TCA, with payments capped at a maximum of 20 days per vessel. This scheme has a budget of €560,000, or up to €80,000 per vessel.
The Brexit Fisheries Cooperative Transition Scheme 2023 will compensate fisheries cooperatives for losses experienced in 2022. The scheme will compensate for 7.5% of lost revenue in 2022 compared to 2019, up to a cap of €250,000.
Full scheme details will be published once State Aid approval is granted, and as with all BAR schemes, the four new schemes will be administered by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara.
Details of all BAR funded schemes implemented to date are available at bim.ie/fisheries/funding.
455. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish a full list of prawn catch, broken down by port location and vessel, in the State for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41514/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the single legal competent authority responsible for the collection and reporting of fish landings into Ireland.
I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question on the full list of prawn catch, broken down by port location and vessel, in the State for the past five years, to the SFPA and have asked them to revert directly to the Deputy with the figures requested.
456. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish a full list of fishing vessels in the State, by registered owner, name of vessel and port location, licensed to fish razor clams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41515/23]
View answer457. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the current regulations for the fishing of razor clams in Ireland are sustainable; if he has given any consideration to capping the number of boats/registered vessels allowable to fish the species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41516/23]
View answer458. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of a proposed 700-tonne limit for the fishing of razor clams in Ireland that is intended to be introduced from 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41517/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 457 to 458, inclusive, together.
Ireland’s goals for sustainable fisheries, including inshore stocks such as razor clam, are supported through the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The CFP provides the framework for the long-term conservation and sustainability of fish stocks around our shores and is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters. The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future reflects this approach by committing to protect marine biodiversity and to secure a sustainable future for the fisheries sector while supporting coastal communities.
There are a number of regulations in place to support the sustainable fishing of razor clam, including:
• Razor Clam (Conservation of Stocks) (North Irish Sea) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 160 of 2018) – These Regulations increase the Minimum Conservation Reference Size for razor clam taken by Irish sea-fishing boats in the north Irish Sea to 125 mm.
• Razor Clams (Conservation of Stocks) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 588 of 2015) – These Regulations reduced the weekly landing limit on razor clams for vessels in the north Irish Sea fishery to 600 kilograms from 1 January 2016.
• Razor Clam (Conservation of Stocks) (North Irish Sea) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 207 of 2015) – These Regulations limit razor clam fishing in the north Irish Sea to certain days of the week.
• Razor Clam (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 206 of 2015) – These Regulations regulate the razor clam fishery within the internal waters or territorial seas by implementing a number of restrictions and conditions for the fishery, including weighing of landings, reporting of catch and Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring of vessels.
These regulations were developed in consultation with inshore fishers, and other stakeholders, through the National and Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums. Since their inception, the Inshore Forums have been at the forefront in developing initiatives to protect the future of the inshore sector.
Sea-fishing boats registered in the polyvalent and specific segments are generally eligible to fish for razor clams. The Register of Sea Fishing Boats is publicly available online at: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/5907a-sea-fisheries-administration/. There is currently no consideration being given to introducing a limit on the number of vessels that can fish for razor clam.
Scientific assessments of razor clam are carried out by the Marine Institute. The Marine Institute is the statutory body whose function is inter alia to undertake sea-fisheries research, assess and advise on the sustainable exploitation of the marine fisheries resources in the waters around Ireland and on the impacts of fisheries on the ecosystem.
The Marine Institute has recommended in recent years that total allowable catches (TACs) be introduced to manage outtake from razor clam fisheries in the Irish Sea, with the TACs to be based on defined harvest rates and annual estimates of the biomass of stocks from research surveys. The Inshore Forums have been consulted on these recommendations. I am advised that the Marine Institute carried out razor clam surveys in the north and south Irish Sea earlier this year. My Department expects to receive the Marine Institute’s latest scientific advice for razor clam in the near future.
The Marine Institute regularly reports on trends in the razor clam fishery in the Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review, which it publishes annually with Bord Iascaigh Mhara. The Review focuses on non-quota species, such as brown crab, lobster and razor clam, as well as the activity of the shellfish fleet. It can be accessed online, along with other Marine Institute publications, at oar.marine.ie/.
I would encourage fishers to bring suggestions for the management of razor clam, as well as other inshore stocks, to the attention of their local Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum. Information regarding the Forums, including contact details, is available at the Forums' dedicated website: inshoreforums.ie/.
Question No. 457 answered with Question No. 456.
459. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what engagements he has had with the British government in relation to any plans it may have for development of offshore renewable energy in areas 7G and 7F that will potentially impact Irish fishing waters and the Irish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41518/23]
View answerI am informed by officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) that they regularly engage with counterparts in the UK in relation to spatial planning in both jurisdictions’ waters for future offshore renewable energy development. Officials of DECC further advised that on 18th of April 2023 they were informed of four 'minded to' future Project Development Areas (PDAs) in the Celtic Sea within which the Crown Estate would hope to run future leasing rounds to deliver up to 4 GW of floating offshore wind.
Where I am made aware of consultations being held for Offshore Renewable Energy installations in the Celtic Sea, my Department will examine the proposals and provide observations, where necessary, on potential impacts on Irish fishers under the scope of such consultations.
460. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has given any consideration in communication with Bord Iascaigh Mhara to opening a processing plant for the Irish inshore shellfish fisheries industry, and namely, the cockle industry, following market and regulatory disruption due to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41519/23]
View answerIn 2022, I announced the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme, which provided for €45 million in funding for capital investment projects in seafood processing enterprises. The scheme was introduced to provide an opportunity for processors to expand and enhance the capacity, efficiency and value added focus of their facilities in order to attract new sources of raw material.
Funding was provided under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve and based on a recommendation of the Seafood Taskforce. I established the Taskforce to assess the impacts of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on the fishing sector and coastal communities. The Taskforce recommended that the sector be provided with a stimulus to drive transformational change and thereby overcome constraints arising from Brexit and incentivise change through the provision of graduated grant aid rates for capital investment projects in the industry.
In line with this Taskforce recommendation, the above scheme was designed to provide greater levels of funding to those capital investment projects that resulted in higher value-added activities and, in particular, to assist those seafood processors seeking to move away from commodity production to the production of higher value-added products and help those seeking to diversify their product offering and enter new markets. Funding has also been made available for seafood processors seeking to improve environmental performance and those aiming to achieve greater production efficiencies.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), which has been administering this scheme, has advised my Department that it is not aware of interest having been expressed from entities to access such funding in respect of cockle processing facilities.
461. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what plans he and his Department have to renew a long-term lease on the Bord Iascaigh Mhara coastal training centre based in Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41520/23]
View answerI am happy to clarify that my Department does not have a lease for such a facility with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) at Howth, Co. Dublin. BIM operates the National Fisheries College of Ireland at Greencastle, Co. Donegal and at Castletownbere, Co. Cork. BIM also has mobile coastal training units that are deployed in line with skills and training needs regionally.
462. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that islanders whose only mainland vehicle is taxed as a “motor caravan” are not allowed free parking in the island reserved Department car park in Ros a Mhíl, Co. na Gaillimhe, on the grounds of health and safety, when they are allowed park in the adjacent Department public car park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41540/23]
View answerThe six Fishery Harbour Centres managed and maintained by my Department are working fishing centres and therefore caravans, converted commercials vans, and any vehicle equipped for living in, are not permitted to park overnight in car parks operated by my Department, due to the very serious health and safety risks associated.
My Department, in consultation with the three Island Committees, agreed to provide parking permits to permanent residents of the Aran Islands. A limited number of spaces in the Fishery Harbour Centre car park have been set aside as a permit parking area.
When the terms and conditions of the parking permit application process were decided, vehicles taxed as ‘Motor Caravan’ were not included as eligible under this process.
463. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Bills prepared by his Department in the 33rd Dáil to date; the number and title of those Bills that included a Regulatory Impact Assessment; the title of the RIAs published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41583/23]
View answerMy Department has overseen the drafting and enactment of 5 Bills over the course of the 33rd Dail. Three of those Bills were accompanied by Regulatory Impact Assessment reports.
Details of the 5 relevant Bills are below:
1. Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 (Bill 32 of 2020)
2. Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021, Bill No. 108 of 2021. The title of the accompanying RIA is: Review of Regulatory Impact Analysis of the Proposal for a Bill to amend the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 to provide for a Points System for Masters of Fishing Vessels.
3. Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 No. 139 of 2021
4. Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 Bill No. 120 of 2022. The title of the accompanying RIA is: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2022) Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA).
5. Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feeds and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023, Bill No. 7 of 2023. The title of the accompanying RIA is: Regulatory Impact Assessment for VMP Bill.
464. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the money awarded for the repair of four piers and harbours (details supplied) will be ringfenced while the foreshore licences are being sought; if the foreshore licences are not in place by the end of 2023, if he will guarantee that this money will still be available to complete the works in 2024, or at whatever point the foreshore licences are granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41601/23]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to projects under the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023. This Scheme flows from the Seafood Taskforce report and is aimed exclusively at the rejuvenation of local authority owned public piers and harbours with the objective of offsetting the impact of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement. The Scheme proposed for funding from the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) and the nature of this funding is unprecedented.
The deadline for eligibility of monies being paid out under the BAR Regulation remains 31 December 2023, and my Department is liaising with all local authorities regarding progression of their projects.
A public and statutory consultation must be completed for projects requiring a foreshore licence and I believe that the local authority concerned has commenced this consultation for three of their projects. My Department is awaiting the outcome of this process before the respective foreshore applications can be processed any further. It is not appropriate for me to comment further on this process until it is concluded.
I have asked my Department officials to continue to engage with all County Councils to ensure maximum delivery of projects approved under BALAMI.
465. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding has been provided for MS sufferers in Budget 2024; if he has included a request from an organisation (details supplied) for additional funding from the HSE to provide a national MS respite centre and expand its opening to 350 days per annum, providing an additional 1,248 bed nights annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41383/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
466. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the all-in cost of delivering modular homes for people from Ukraine, with a breakdown of purchase cost, and site-servicing cost. [41433/23]
View answerUnder European Council Directive 2001/55/EC Ireland agreed to assist with the relocation of those fleeing the war in Ukraine. In response to the crisis, the Government has sought to provide a range of accommodation solutions.
As part of this considerable national effort, and following government decisions in March and June 2022, it was agreed to commence installation of Rapid Build homes to be occupied by those fleeing the war in Ukraine. The Government approved the construction of 500 rapid build homes on state owned land, which will aim to provide accommodation to 2000 individuals in family units.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) was asked by Government to develop a pilot programme of the initial 500 rapid build homes on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). That number was subsequently increased to 700 in October 2022. The programme is being progressed under the emergency derogations from planning that were provided for by Government under S.I. No. 306 of 2022 – European Union (Planning and Development) (Displaced Persons from Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations, 2022.
The OPW is leading on the design, development and delivery of the programme. My Department is the Approving Authority for the Programme and has responsibility for the ownership of the homes and their future use. Following a procurement process, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd was appointed as the main contractor to manage the site enabling works and to arrange for the procurement, transportation and installation of the modular units for the overall programme of works. Subsequently, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd engaged in a separate competitive tender process with the rapid build homes manufacturers and assessed them to determine their capacity and capability to produce the homes to the required standard. Following this tender and assessment, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd established a framework of five suppliers around the country to manufacture the homes.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) was asked to assist in identifying sites that might be suitable by seeking information from public authorities on potential sites in their ownership.
Once completed, the developments are to a high standard and include permanent infrastructure, high quality public realm, streets, water, waste, roads, pedestrian routes, lighting, landscaping, semi-private front curtilage and small private rear gardens. Five sites have now been completed and are occupied by residents at Mahon in Cork, Claremorris in Mayo, and Doorley Park in Sligo, Thurles in Co Tipperary and in Cavan town.
The average cost of each of the rapid build homes is €145,000. This includes construction, transport and installation of the units. In terms of cost information, the project is still ongoing and further sites are under consideration to facilitate the additional units. Until that process is completed, it is not possible to fully specify a final programme figure.
467. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, under the child poverty unit, he plans to address the financial challenges being experienced by community childcare providers in disadvantaged areas which have a very high level of sponsored places and have no additional parental income associated with these places and therefore are operating each place below the cost of provision (details supplied). [41485/23]
View answer497. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to address the financial challenges being experienced by community childcare providers in disadvantaged areas who have a very high level of sponsored places and have no additional parental income associated with these places and therefore are operating each place below the cost of provision (details supplied). [41483/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 497 together.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a scheme of financial support to help parents with the cost of childcare. A component of the scheme is a sponsorship referral which makes special provision for vulnerable children.Where a child is approved for NCS sponsorship, my Department will fund their childcare place in accordance to current sponsorship rates with no charge to the parents. The rates paid to ELC and SAC providers with a child with a sponsor referral attending their service is dependent on the age and educational stage of the child. Those sponsorship rates are the equivalent of the maximum possible NCS subsidy rate relative to the child's attendance, plus an additional 15% reflecting the potential additional needs of the child.Officials in my Department are aware of the issues that have been highlighted regarding the sponsor subsidy rates to date. These issues are currently being examined as part of an internal review of the sponsor subsidy and any changes considered as part of Budget 2024.
It is important to note that support is available to all services with financial viability concerns through a Case Management process. My Department oversees this process through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess early learning and childcare services experiencing difficulties and provide support as necessary. Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering on-the-ground case management assistance. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. There is also a Sustainability Fund in place which can be accessed through this case management process. Services can access these supports by contacting their local CCCs.
Finally, I am committed to tackling disadvantage through high quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible. To this end, officials in my Department are currently developing a tailored policy response in order to progress the development of a new strand of funding - Tackling Disadvantage: The Equal Participation Model (EPM).
Through this work, services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage. Following a detailed scoping phase, consultations with a wide range of stakeholders took place from December 2022 to May 2023 to inform and shape this work.The design phase of this model is in progress. An objective and evidence informed methodology underpinning a selection process to identify services for targeted supports is also under design as part of this work.
468. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to set out, in tabular form, the number of community neurorehabilitation teams across the country, per CHO area; to detail the extent to which each team is operating with staff vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41495/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
469. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans in place to address the unfair pay disparity between staff employed by Section 39 organisations, such as those working with an organisation (details supplied) and those in equivalent positions within the HSE; if he will commit to allocating increased funding to Section 39 organisations in Budget 2024 to rectify this wage gap for section 39 organisation employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41621/23]
View answerThe important role that Section 39 and section 56 organisations and their staff play in our health and social care sectors is greatly appreciated and acknowledged. They continue to have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities, vulnerable children and older people.
I am aware that staff recruitment and retention challenges are affecting the sustainability and stability of section 39 and section 56 organisations and their ability to deliver services on behalf of the State. These challenges are mirrored in many of the health and social care professions across the country. The sustainability of the sector is a concern for both the Department and its agencies and we recognise that the ability of these organisations to pay their staff is highly dependent on state funding. Similar considerations arise in respect of other sectors across Government adding to the complexity in seeking to resolve matters for any specific sector.
Officials from my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and Tusla attended a number of engagements with trade unions under the auspices of the Work Relations Committee over recent months. That process culminated in an offer being made to unions. The offer was in line with those accepted by community and voluntary staff in other sectors. The offer to workers in this sector amounted to a 5% increase in funding for pay effective from November 2023, with 3% backdated to April 2023. A commitment to re-engage with trade union representatives following any further public sector pay agreement was also offered.
This combined offer was not accepted by trade union representatives and the announcement yesterday of the decision to take strike action by some organisations follows ballots carried out by their unions.
Any industrial action will impact negatively on service users and I urge all parties to work on resolving this dispute through the available channels, in the interests of users of these services. As Government reflects on the implications the strike announcement, relevant agencies have been asked to engage in contingency planning with the relevant employer organisations so that any impact on those who depend on these essential services can be managed to the greatest extent possible.
Government remains committed to working with the unions to resolve these matters. While Government has engaged in this process, it is worth noting that Section 39 and Section 56 organisations are privately owned and operated, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in those organisations are ultimately between the employer and their employee.
My Department is engaging in on-going dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Health Service Executive in relation to the Budget 2024. These discussions are still progressing and until they are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the level of available funding to address this or any other area that could benefit from increased funding next year.
