Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is almost one year since a final settlement was reached between the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Minister for Social Protection, and the unions representing community employment, CE, supervisors and assistant supervisors. I submitted a parliamentary question last week asking whether the ex gratiapayment which was agreed upon would be paid to these CE workers. The answer I received stated that discussions regarding this are ongoing. However, I know that some CE workers have already been paid the ex gratiapayment while others are still waiting, a year later. It is not acceptable to have people waiting this long to receive a payment, especially during such a crippling cost-of-living crisis. This demonstrates complete disrespect for CE workers and for the unions that represent them. What is the real reason that many community employment supervisors, including in my constituency of Donegal, have not been paid? Can these people be guaranteed that this payment will be made within the next couple of weeks?

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