Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
540. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25840/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection delivers a range of employment and income support schemes including Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS).
These schemes are delivered by independent bodies funded by the Department. CE is delivered by sponsoring authorities while Tús and RSS are delivered by 48 local development companies and by Údarás na Gaeltachta, known collectively as Implementing Bodies. While the Department provides funding for participant and supervisors payroll, the Department is not the employer of any scheme participants or their supervisors.
While all of the supervisors engaged on the employment support schemes play an important role, each of those roles, the related responsibilities and the services delivered are specific to each of the relevant employment support scheme.
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 that specifically related to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors who are employed by CE schemes.
It is within the context of the 2008 Labour Court recommendation that officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the unions representing the CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors held discussions on proposals to progress this issue over the past number of months. These discussions were held on the clear agreement by all involved, that they related solely to CE supervisors and assistant supervisors.
As the Deputy is aware, agreement was recently reached between my colleagues, the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on proposals to resolve the long-standing issue. Details of these proposals have been forwarded to the unions representing CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors by the Department of Social Protection. I understand the unions are currently considering these proposals and have sought clarification on some of the details contained in the proposal. My Department will engage with the unions on this basis. I am confident this is a solid basis for progressing and resolving this complex issue, while ensuring there is no potential exposure for additional costs to the exchequer.
Any settlement arising applies to those parties who were the subject of the 2008 Labour Court recommendation and the subsequent discussions with both Departments, namely CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors. Proposals now under discussion do not apply to other parties such as Tús or RSS supervisors.
