John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On an unrelated issue, we know the State has failed to put in place a pensions scheme following a Labour Court ruling for community employment, CE, supervisors. I am looking at the entire community and voluntary sector where the Minister has said repeatedly that to enact the Labour Court ruling and put in place a pension system for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors would require a look at the entire community and voluntary sector which would cost €500 million. What is the impact of employers being able to roll this scheme out on the community and voluntary sector? Has an assessment been carried out on the ability for the community and voluntary sector to fund this? We know that the funding is very tight. Has there been any discussion or are we open to the Labour Court ruling?

I had hoped that provision would be made in the budget this year for a pension scheme for community employment, CE, supervisors but that did not materialise. Is the Department considering a separate pension scheme for the community and voluntary sector?