Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 October 2017
272. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the board of management of a company (details supplied) brought staffing concerns and ongoing incidents to the attention of Pobal with which they were under contract under the community services programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45312/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra274. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the person or body to which a company (details supplied) under the community services programme is ultimately answerable to in cases in which serious staffing concerns and ongoing incidents have not been adequately addressed; the sanctions that are in place regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45314/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 274 together.
The Community Services Programme (CSP) is funded by my Department and is administered on its behalf by Pobal. The purpose of CSP is to support voluntary and community organisations to provide essential services and businesses to their communities with services designed to:
- Alleviate disadvantage;
- Promote sustainable social and economic development;
- Provide employment for those most distant from the labour market; and
- Strengthen local ownership through participation in decision-making.
The Programme supports the employment of individuals, who have previously been unemployed, in delivering the services to the community. Programme service providers are required to comply with all applicable legal and statutory requirements. They are required to discharge their activities to high standards of corporate governance expected of recipients of public funding.
The organisation referred to by the Deputy decided to voluntarily exit the CSP in advance of the end of their current contract with Pobal.
The manager of the company contacted Pobal in November 2016 and made Pobal aware verbally that there were staffing issues and concerns. Pobal informed the manager that the board of management were the employers and that staffing issues needed to be addressed through this route.
The programme company or co-operative is the employer of all staff in posts supported by the programme and is responsible for determining its recruitment and the terms and conditions of employment. This includes grievance procedures and human resources policies. These are reviewed by Pobal as part of the re-contracting process and form part of the evidence used by Pobal in assessing suitability for continued funding under the programme.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
