Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
890. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected timelines for pay parity claims for Tús supervisors; if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56875/23]
View answer898. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on proposals submitted to her Department by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform as referred to in correspondence (details supplied) containing proposals formulated in the Tripartite Forum involving trade unions representing Tús and RSS supervisors, ILDN and Department of Social Protection officials in relation to the question of pay parity for Tús and RSS supervisors with their equivalents (community employment supervisors); when a decision will be made by her officials on the proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57018/23]
View answer938. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on progress towards addressing the pay disparity that sees RSS or Tús supervisors paid less than community employment supervisors for very similar work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1015/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 890, 898 and 938 together.
My Department operates a number of employment support schemes; including Tús, Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Community Employment (CE), for long term unemployed persons and low income farmers/fishers. I would like to acknowledge the important role that Tús and RSS supervisors play in providing valuable opportunities to participants in supporting the delivery of key services to local communities across the country.
It should be noted that Tús and RSS supervisors are employees of the individual Implementing Bodies (Local Development Companies), which are funded by the Department.
In early 2023, union representatives and employers agreed, with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the support of Department officials, a wage increase of 5% for supervisors employed on Tús, RSS and CE schemes.
Officials in my Department continue to hold regular meetings with the supervisor's representative associations to discuss issues in relation to the delivery of all employment programmes. In recent meetings the representatives raised the issue of pay parity for Tús and RSS with CE supervisors.
It is important to note that there are differences in the work undertaken by CE supervisors compared to that undertaken by Tús and RSS, relating, for example, to the preparation of individual learning plans. As a consequence, we would expect the service fees paid to the service providers to reflect this difference in scope.
My Department, as funder of these schemes, are considering the complexities involved in addressing this issue. It is also important to note that any changes to the fees paid or the funding model will require the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
Pending the outcome of this consideration, officials in my Department will continue to work with the Implementation Bodies and staff representatives in an effort to resolve the issue.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
