Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2022
369. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to increasing the level of pay that community employment supervisors receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56148/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra370. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to giving increases in pay to community employment supervisors similar to that which was received by those working in the public service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56149/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra371. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that community employment supervisors did not receive increases to their pay recently that those in the public service did, even though they are paid by the Department of Social Protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56150/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 369 to 371, inclusive, together.
We are all very conscious of the important role that Community Employment (CE) and other programmes play in our communities. In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, schemes such as CE also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities.
The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring authorities who are the legal employers of CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors. The Department is the funder of schemes; CE sponsoring authorities receive state funding to cover the cost of remuneration, training and material costs from the department. Therefore, any pay increases could increase the cost to the state of running CE schemes.
The Department of Social Protection, as the funder of CE schemes, has received correspondence from Fórsa and SIPTU seeking a pay increase for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. However, any increase in pay rates that would potentially increase the overall cost to the state of funding schemes, or state funded activities in the wider community and voluntary sector, must take into consideration the potential cost to the exchequer. Given these budgetary implications, this correspondence has been forwarded to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for their consideration.
The Department will continue to follow-up on this issue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and will also continue discussions with the Trade Unions concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
