Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is accepted. Will Mr. McKeon come to the specific question about CE supervisors? I had intended to raise this. There is an argument over who should fund the scheme and I would agree with him on that in the context of meals and wheels and so on. Typically, they could be graveyard committees or sports clubs that have staff in various places. The estimation is that it is reflected throughout the country fairly well in terms of boards and so on. The context is that there is a pay claim coming, and the ask from this meeting is that the Department will need to consider this seriously. If people have not had a pay increase for 14 years, they are probably the only category of workers that has not had a pay increase over that 14-year period. It is not sustainable. There is now a greater volume of work, including more administrative work and paperwork. They are expected to fulfil a number of functions. It might not, in theory, be public services but, in practice, they are in contact with the Department's officials every day of the week. They have a huge responsibility to carry. They are a group who have been left out. There has been an ask from the Deputy, and I emphasise that the matter will come before the Department. As a result, it needs serious consideration.

I understand the legal position regarding whether it comes through the boards. I was on one of the boards, and, at one time, I was on a CE scheme. I have been on both sides of this. I understand how it works but CE supervisors cannot be ignored. We cannot let this drift on for another year without fixing it. It has to be fixed.