Community Employment Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Ceisteanna (849, 896, 898)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

849. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of community employment schemes under level 5. [32505/20]

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

896. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if community employment schemes are classified as an essential service and are eligible and insured to remain open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32994/20]

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

898. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if participants in community employment, Tús and the rural social scheme can continue and are insurable during the level 5 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33008/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Heather Humphreys)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 849, 896 and 898 together.

During the original Covid-19 emergency earlier this year, when the most restrictive measures were in place, the Department continued to provide the necessary funding for CE schemes. Other contingency measures were also introduced, including the extension of those CE participant contracts that were due to come to an end during the lockdown period.

Following the recently announced return to Level-5, the Department has reintroduced these contingency arrangements. The Department will continue to provide funding for CE, Tús and RSS. Department officials have been liaising with schemes to arrange for those participants who were due to finish over the 6 week Level-5 period to have their contracts extended until 4th December, 2020, unless a participant is taking up employment or reaches the State Pension age. This will be kept under review.

CE sponsoring authorities and RSS and Tús implementing bodies are the legal employers of their supervisors, assistant supervisors and participants. Department officials have reminded sponsors, that as employers and service providers they need to fully adhere to public health guidelines and legislation on Covid-19 emergency at all levels of restrictions including Level 5 restrictions in accordance with the Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan, which sets out which services are essential.

It continues to be the responsibility of CE sponsoring authorities and Tús and RSS implementing bodies to ensure that they have adequate insurance in place to cover the operation of their services.

Like all other employers and service providers, including those in the community sector, CE sponsoring authorities and RSS and Tús implementing bodies are facing challenges during the current emergency period. Department officials will continue to liaise with and support CE sponsoring authorities along with Tús and RSS implementing bodies throughout the current Level-5 period.