Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1134. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update in relation to the ongoing community employment supervisors pension issue; if plans are in place for a pay rise for supervisors given that there has been no increase since 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19000/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Employment Scheme (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and others with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring authorities who are the legal employers of their CE supervisors, CE assistant supervisors and CE participants. CE sponsoring authorities receive state funding to cover the cost of remuneration, training and material costs from the Department. CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors are not public servants or employees of the Department.
CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors were not subject to the pay reductions, Additional Superannuation Contributions (ASC) or the Pension-related Deduction (PRD) under the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts which only applied to public servants. CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have therefore not benefitted from the related restoration of those civil and public service pay cuts that has been ongoing since 2016.
As the Deputy will be aware, CE supervisors and assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors who are employed by CE schemes.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform had to have regard to any potential Exchequer exposure associated with dealing with the specific issue relating solely to CE supervisors arising from the Labour Court recommendation. Any proposal to resolve this specific issue, can and will only apply to CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors.
It has been within this context that officials from my Department and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform held discussions on proposals to progress and resolve this issue over the past number of months, while having regard to the wider budgetary framework. Officials from my Department also held discussions with unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors during the same period.
I am very pleased to report there has been a successful outcome to the discussions between both Departments late last week. On Friday last, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Minister McGrath and my colleague Minister Humphreys reached agreement in principle on proposals to resolve this issue. This includes a financial package.
These proposals have been put to the unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors in recent days and I am optimistic that this will bring this matter to a speedy resolution.
