Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 March 2022
115. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors who served in the role prior to 1 July 2008 are not eligible for the recently approved ex-gratia payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15164/22]
View answer116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an ex-gratia payment rather than a pension was agreed with community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15165/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Fórsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.
Within this context, officials from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform held discussions on proposals to progress and resolve this complex issue, while having regard to the wider budgetary framework. Department officials also held discussions with unions representing CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors to implement this 2008 Labour Court recommendation.
These discussions were held on the clear agreement of all involved that they related solely to those parties who were the subject of the 2008 Labour Court recommendation, namely CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors, and that any agreement reached on the proposal arising from these discussions would apply only to those parties.
Agreement was reached in December 2021 between the Department of Social Protection and unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors that resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment rather than a pension to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. On the 23rd December, both unions involved confirmed acceptance of this settlement which will benefit over 2,200 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008. It is estimated to have a total cost of over €24 million.
Generally, under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratia payment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008. People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age will be able to apply for payments immediately when the scheme is in place.
The qualifying period for the scheme is from 1st July 2008 to the 31st December 2023 and will apply to all periods of employment as a CE supervisor or CE assistant supervisor during that period subject to certain conditions. The terms of the settlement, in line with the Labour Court recommendation, does not apply to those who were employed and retired prior to 1 July 2008.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
