Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the issues being discussed in, and the activities of, the community sector higher level forum, or the working group, which was convened to examine certain issues pertaining to the community employment sector, having regard to the consequences for costs and precedent. This includes community and employment supervisors and assistant supervisors who have been seeking, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme dating back to 2008, as the Deputy acknowledged.  The forum met on 27 November 2015 and on 11 April 2016.  I plan to appoint a new chair soon and future meetings will be planned once the appointment is made.

Our position has always been that FÁS or the Department of Social Protection is not the employer and that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme to employees of private companies even if those companies are, or were, reliant on State funding.  In considering the matter, I must have regard to costs and the precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created but my plan is, mindful of the fact that this working group has not met for a number of months, to appoint a chairman and restore the process that was under way.

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