Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021
163. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason his Department has chosen to propose a once-off gratuity for the community enterprise scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors as opposed to the pension scheme recommended by the Labour Court in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32045/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the matter of community employment schemes falls within the policy remit of the Minister for Social Protection.
I have however a strong appreciation of the role of Community Employment Schemes in communities right across the country and I know that this role could not be fulfilled without the leadership of the Scheme Supervisors. In this context I have taken the opportunity to meet with the relevant parties involved in these schemes to hear at first hand their issues of concern.
The particular matter raised is a complex one that raises significant policy, legal and exchequer cost issues. As it relates to the Community Employment scheme, a resolution must be progressed via the Department of Social Protection. The Deputy will appreciate that the State is not the employer of the workers concerned. This is a factor which must be borne in mind in the terms of the approach to this.
As the Deputy will also appreciate, we are now facing major challenges in managing the public finances. However, in conjunction with the Minister for Social Protection, I have given fresh consideration to all the issues involved and have recently written to Minister Humphries in relation to a proposed way forward in relation to this complex issue. I understand that Minister Humphries and her officials are now in the process of engaging with the relevant stakeholders to make progress.
