MEDIA DIARY ADVISORY (TODAY): Crisis in Health and Social Services: A Special Briefing, 18 September 
 
The media are invited to attend a special briefing on the widening crisis in health and social services, hosted by The Wheel, the national association of charities. Representatives from several health and social providers and charities will address the following issues:
  1. The crisis in community health and social services has left thousands of vulnerable children and adults without access to critical services. One-quarter of acute hospital services and approximately two-thirds of services to people with disabilities are delivered by voluntary organisations funded by the state. Despite their indispensable role, however, community and voluntary service providers are grappling with a pay and staffing crisis that is blocking access to and affecting the quality of vital services. This crisis stems from the stark pay gap between staff working in these organisations and those in the civil service who perform similar, often identical, roles. Current funding levels provide for salaries that will be, on average, 12% lower than civil-service salaries by October of this year. Industrial action may be imminent, which will cause further disruption.
  2. A call for reform of the government’s funding model for voluntary health and social care providers
  3. The geopolitical events and economic pressures have driven many charities to the financial brink
  4. The impact of unstainable insurance costs on community and voluntary groups
  5. The need to increase the cap on the VAT compensation scheme for charities.
DATE: Monday, 18 September 2023
 
TIME: 10 am - 12 noon
 
VENUE: Buswells Hotel (Georgian Room), 23-27, Molesworth St, Dublin 2, D02 CT80
 
SPEAKERS: Representatives from 40 charities will be attending and speakers will include:
 
CONTACT:  Gert Ackermann, Communication Manager, The Wheel, Tel: 086 1769287 or email gert@wheel.ie
 
PHOTOCALL: A media photo call will be held at 11.30 am outside the gates of Leinster House on Kildare Street. Workers from several health and social care services will be taking part.
 
ENDS