Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 December 2019
289. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress of the community employment supervisors pension claim in respect of the sanctioning of funding for the community employment supervisors pension gratuity claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51968/19]
View answer304. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures being put in place for the provision of a pension scheme for community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors under the community employment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52166/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 304 together.
The Community Employment Scheme (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and others with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
The programme is delivered through independent Community Employment Sponsoring Bodies. The contract agreement between the Department and the Community Employment Sponsoring Body establishes their role as an independent contractor, responsible for all purposes and all persons recruited by them.
CE Supervisors are not employed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. CE Supervisors have always been employees of Community Employment Sponsoring Bodies which operate in the community and voluntary sector.
I am very aware of the valuable and dedicated service that Community Employment (CE) sponsor organisations provide in running CE Schemes across the country. CE supervisors, as employees of these organisations, are an integral part of that good work.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Department is currently engaging with representatives of CE supervisors to discuss issues arising following that 2008 Labour Court Recommendation and that all parties agreed that the detail of all discussions undertaken by the group should remain confidential until the process had completed. I would ask Deputies to respect these wishes and allow the talks to continue free from speculation.
