Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to the meeting and thank her for her presentation and her continued engagement with the committee. I approve of this Supplementary Estimate.

I have a few issues. I have raised with the Minister over an extended period of time the issue of community employment, CE. There is a need to reform CE to make people eligible. I am aware the Department has carried out a number of reviews. Could the Minister update the committee on that work? When does the Minister envisage that a decision will be made, basically, on the eligibility criteria to make CE more easy to get into? Community employment is a win-win for the person and for the community where they work as well and I cannot see why the Department is dragging its heels on this.

In relation to the Christmas bonus, when exactly does the Minister envisage that it will be paid? On the issue of changes to the means test for support carers, will the Minister have a look at that?

I have received much communication on the offer that was made to CE supervisors in the ongoing issue with their pension. Is that issue finalised or does the Minister expect some more offers to be made to the CE supervisors and retired CE supervisors? Could the Minister update the committee on that as well?