Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to participate in this debate. I am familiar with the issues as a result of numerous meetings I have had with community employment scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors in County Donegal. Donegal is just a microcosm of the rest of the country. We are here to support all of those who have done so much in supervising community employment schemes. The value of their input is difficult to quantify. It goes to millions of euro.

What is at stake is simple. It is an occupational pension for those who worked to keep the schemes going. This matter has been ongoing since 2008 and we are all familiar with the Labour Court decision. When the Taoiseach was Minister for Social Protection, he met community employment supervisors in Donegal when he was on the campaign trail 12 months ago. He felt the recommendation of the Labour Court should be implemented. The Taoiseach is in a senior and influential position now but nothing has been done about it.

Will the Minister ensure the Labour Court recommendation is implemented? Our calculations are that about €3.3 million is involved. That is the commitment required from the Government. We have had many false dawns. We have had many promises. I recall Ministers committing privately to this but, when it comes to a Government decision, they then take a different view. The supervisors are employed by the company but by the same token, if there is a will, the Government can change this overnight. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, together with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection can accept the Fianna Fáil motion tonight. By doing so, they would be rewarding these supervisors. Many of them have retired and they have to be taken into consideration as well.

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