Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2017
317. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will pay a superannuation pension and gratuity to retiring supervisors of community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7405/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe particular issue in question includes community and employment supervisors and assistant supervisors who have been seeking, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme dating back to 2008. The Community Sector High Level Forum (or Working Group) (previously the Informal Forum) was convened in 2015 and 2016 to examine certain issues pertaining to the Community Employment sector having regard to the implications for costs and precedent.
In light of the recent appointment of a new Chair to the High Level Forum a meeting is accordingly being arranged between the parties concerned with a view to scheduling a date in the first quarter of 2017.
It does however continue to be the position that state organisations are not the employer of the particular employees concerned and that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme. The employees in question are or were employees of private companies notwithstanding the fact that the companies concerned are, or were, reliant on State funding. In considering the matter, regard must be had to costs and the precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created.
