Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
280. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will explain the continuing failure of his Department to pay outstanding redundancy and back pay owed to 28 former workers of St. Enda's Sports Complex, County Limerick, who were effectively employed by the State and who lost their jobs over 18 months ago as a result of a withdrawal of State funding from his Department. [43453/12]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that a consultation process between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department is still ongoing in relation to the matter of Labour Court recommendation LCR20062 dated 19 May 2011. However, this consultation process is expected to be concluded in the near future.
In relation to the matter of Back Pay my Department has conducted a search of all records relating to St. Enda's Sports Complex and has recently confirmed to the Union representing the staff interests that no sanction was ever sought or received from my Department for the payment of Labour Court Recommendation LCR18901 dated 28 May 2007 at any time. The 3 staff concerned are not public servants, nor was the State ever the Employer of these staff. Accordingly my Department is not in a position to sanction the payment of any additional resources in this case given the current economic climate and the pressures on public finances.
