Groups representing charities that provide services on behalf of the State have called on the Taoiseach to address pay shortfalls for staff.
In a letter that will be delivered to Simon Harris today, the organisations are seeking the introduction of a sustainable funding model for community and voluntary sector bodies that provide essential services in areas such housing, health and disability supports.
"Under resourcing of this work, due to the continuation of funding cuts implemented in our sector during the economic crisis, has increasingly threatened the very viability of service delivery in recent years," the letter states.
In October 2023, a pay agreement was reached with staff in the community and voluntary sector, hours before strike action was due to commence involving 5,000 workers across 17 organisations.
The agreement included an offer from the Government of an 8% increase in funding for wages which was to benefit workers in Section 39, 56 and 10 organisations.
These are privately run organisations and charities that are contracted by the Government to provide services to the State in the areas of health, children's services and homeless services.
"We appreciate the approval by government in October 2023 of an eight percent wage increase to partially address pay disparity issues in Section 39, 56/40 and 10 organisations," the letter to the Taoiseach states.
"We are disappointed, however, that our staff are being immediately re-disadvantaged by the failure to date to apply the terms of the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026," it added.
"Sustainable funding involves more than just improvements in pay."
"Progress on pay should serve as a stepping stone towards providing sustainability of our public service delivery and certainty for service users," according to the letter.
To address the issues, the groups are calling for the establishment of a cross-departmental, whole-of -Government approach which would involve a move towards multi-annual funding to ensure certainty for service users, staff and management.
Among the signatories of the letter are the heads of organisations including the Disability Federation of Ireland, Dublin Homeless Network, National Voluntary Drug and Alcohol Sector, Simon Communities of Ireland and The Wheel.
