Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2019
482. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter regarding community employment supervisors will be investigated (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20651/19]
View answerFirstly, I am delighted to note that the industrial action due to take place this week has been suspended following recent discussions I and officials held with Forsa and SIPTU. The very many services provided by CE supervisors, assistant supervisors and every participant in community employment schemes in rural and urban areas are extremely valuable to every town and village in the country. All of these schemes are well embedded in community areas nationally and they are engaged in significant levels of service support and delivery.
Engagement will now commence between the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the unions over the next number of months provides an opportunity to address issues of concern to CE Supervisors.
Specifically, with regard to the matter of enhanced redundancy raised by the Deputy, my Department continues to honour the agreement between FÁS and the relevant trade unions which allows for the payment of enhanced redundancy where a CE supervisor’s redundancy situation arose due to a decision to reduce overall CE scheme numbers. It does not apply where the employer is the instigator of the redundancy or, for example, where the Sponsor no longer wants to run the CE scheme or in the case of closure due to Company Registration Office strike-off, or where the sponsor organisation does not comply with the terms of their contract (e.g. maintain participant numbers) and it is necessary for the Department to discontinue funding for the scheme supervisor position.
