Mayo TD calls for action as disability sector workers vote to strike

Aontú TD for Mayo, Paul Lawless, has criticised the Government’s failure to address the ongoing crisis in the disability and care sectors, as SIPTU Section 39 workers have voted for strike action over pay disputes.

Deputy Lawless warned that recruitment and retention issues are having a “catastrophic impact” on disability services, with two-thirds of the sector relying on voluntary organisations. He accused the Government of neglecting its commitments, saying, “We cannot claim to prioritise the needs of vulnerable people unless we address these core issues.”

He highlighted pre-election promises that have yet to materialise in Government policy, arguing that care workers deserve equal pay for equal work. “No Minister would accept an inferior pay scale for doing the same job as their counterpart—why should caregivers?” he asked.

With strike action now looming, Deputy Lawless is calling for urgent Government intervention to prevent essential services from collapsing. “Care workers do not want to strike, but they’ve been left with no choice,” he said. “It’s time for the Government to respect, recognise, and fairly pay those who care for the most vulnerable in our communities.”