Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she accepts that a loophole exists in that there are not pension provisions for community employment supervisors as, technically, they do not appear to be regarded as public servants; and if there are any moves afoot to bring community employment supervisors under the public service umbrella and therefore eligible for a public service pension. [2800/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Deputies will be aware of the position as set out in my reply to question numbers 99, 89 & 102 on 1st December 2011. I do not accept that any loophole exists in the current arrangements with respect to this matter. Supervisors and assistant supervisors are employed by sponsor organisations in contract with FÁS (now the Department of Social Protection) for the operation of community employment (CE) and the delivery of the local services supported.

All sponsor organisations operated independently of FÁS in the discharge of their various functions in respect to the management of staff, participants, finance, and governance arrangements. These arrangements will not be changed with the integration of FÁS into my Department. Given the position of the majority of sponsor organisations as independent entities constituted under the Companies Acts, there can be no consideration that any of their employees could or should be employed as public servants. As such, the position regarding the making of pension provisions for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors remains unchanged.