Vol. 537 No. 5
134 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans she has in relation to the post of community employment supervisors who are engaged in work for schools; if she will urgently notify all such supervisors of her intentions; and if the post will be continued for the foreseeable future. [16729/01]
140 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she can give assurances that no person engaged as a supervisor or as a community employment worker will be disadvantaged as a result of a transfer of school based community employment activities to the Department of Education and Science. [17008/01]
141 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rights under the employment Acts which are enjoyed by workers and by supervisors under community employment; and the way in which this might affect any change of status that might arise in transferring such functions to the Department of Education and Science. [17009/01]
I propose to take Question Nos. 134, 140 and 141 together.
Supervisors are employed by sponsors of community employment, CE, projects and these positions are funded by a grant from FÁS. The personnel concerned are not FÁS employees. Supervisors are afforded the same rights and protection under the employment Acts as other workers in the open labour market.
Discussions with the Department of Education and Science with regard to the mainstreaming of schools' services are at an advanced stage and I intend to begin the mainstreaming process and to transfer CE funding freed up by the reduction in CE positions in schools to that Department in time for the new school year in September next. CE participants providing schools' services, which include secretaries, caretakers and classroom assistants, will not be replaced on the programme when their term has finished as it will no longer be possible for schools to avail of CE to provide these services.
