Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The Department does not provide funding for any participant or supervisor who has reached the State pension age. This has been Government policy since community employment commenced in April 1994 as a working age specific active labour market intervention. The details of the employment contract issued by the sponsoring organisation are a matter between the CE sponsor, as the employer, and the supervisor, as the employee. The CE procedures manual outlines the conditions under which the Department will fund the sponsoring organisation for the CE positions.

The Department advises the sponsoring organisation to include retirement arrangements in any contractual agreements with employees of the scheme, including the CE supervisor, in order that all parties are aware of the conditions under which funding is provided. Where a sponsor has other financial resources and wishes to continue to retain the employment of a supervisor who has reached State pension age, the Department has no role with such arrangements.

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