To ask the Minister for Social Development whether he intends to allow cost of living increases for staff in community voluntary sector organisations, in line with a 2.2 per cent cost of living increase agreed by the National Joint Council from January 2015.

It is for voluntary and community sector organisations, as employers, to decide whether they are going to allow a cost of living increase for staff in their employment.

In terms of these voluntary and community sector organisations which receive funding from my Department , funding decision take account of individual project circumstances, the National Joint Council pay scales and the amount of funding which is available to my Department.