To ask the Minister for Communities (i) whether he will protect and improve the terms and conditions through the commitment to real living wage rates for voluntary and community sector posts; and (ii) whether he has had any discussions with other departments to ensure they do the same.

My department’s grant funding provides a contribution towards eligible costs, which may include salaries and running costs incurred in the delivery of a range of agreed policy outcomes. Funding allocations for 2024/25 will be considered against competing priorities and within my overall Departmental budget position once the Executive sets a 2024/25 Budget.

My department is not the employer of staff in any voluntary and community sector organisation it funds. Terms and conditions and pay policies are a matter for the employer.

I am pleased that my officials have been supporting the work of the Joint Forum, with representatives of other Executive departments and local government, to co-develop a set of Funding Principles aimed at improving the funding relationship with the Sector, recognising the fundamental difference that an enabling and consistent funding environment can make in terms of organisations being able to offer improved terms and conditions.