MINISTER for Disability, Finian McGrath, has strongly defended his record in Government after a scathing attack from Independent TD, Tommy Broughan.
In a hard-hitting statement, Deputy Broughan attacked Minister McGrath over the issue of pay restoration for staff working in the disability charity sector. This followed a meeting Mr Broughan held with officials from the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) who outlined the difficulties this issue is causing the charity and its staff.
Mr Broughan explained: “While staff of Section 39 organisations such as the IWA and Rehab are not public servants, their payscales have been linked to HSE Section 38 organisation payscales and HSE payscales for over 15 years.
“Staff in some areas of Section 38 and Section 39 organisations carry out the same duties and the levels of pay have therefore, historically, had parity.
“The HSE instructed Section 39 organisations to cut pay in 2010 in order to keep the reduced level of pay across the sector. However, now that Section 38 organisations are in talks for pay restoration, the HSE and Ministers for Health and Public Expenditure have said that Section 39 organisations are not entitled to any restoration in funding to allow them to meet the levels of pay restoration seen in Section 38 organisations.
“This means that staff in Section 39 organisations are expected to carry out equal work without restoration of pay.”
Deputy Broughan asked what Minister McGrath had been doing to resolve what he described as a crucial matter.
“He seems to just show up to have his photo taken at various events,” he stated. “He has been absolutely no help to staff of Section 39 organisations, who provide vital services and have now had to enter the Workplace Relations Commission process to deal with pay restoration issues.”
He added: “Why have a Minister of State in charge of disability if he doesn’t have control of the national disability budget? His reply to my numerous representations on the matter have been useless and disingenuous.”
However, Minister Finian McGrath strongly hit back at Deputy Broughan’s comments.
”The facts are that Deputy Broughan refused to get involved in the formation of a Government,” Minister McGrath stated.
“He ran away and decided to do nothing. I went in to fight for the people of Dublin Bay North.”
Minister McGrath proceeded to list his achievements during his first year in office, including:
• 9,800 Medical cards for sick and disabled children
• Full restoration of the Carer’s Grant, with 101,000 families now getting €1,700 per year for respite.
• A new €5.95 million kidney unit for Beaumont Hospital.
• An additional €32 million for Disability Services.
• New drugs for Cystic Fibrosis patients.
Minister McGrath said he is currently working on a new Accident and Emergency Department and a new Cystic Fibrosis unit for Beaumont Hospital.
He will also launch a new National Disability Strategy (2017- 2021) in the coming weeks.
“These are just some of my achievements while Deputy Broughan sat on the fence,” he added.
“I won’t be taking any lectures from him when he ran away from doing something for the people of Dublin Bay North.
“I’ll continue to fight on and deliver services and jobs for our people.”
