Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

There are approximately 20,000 community employment scheme workers in the State. They do valuable work in community centres, in sports grounds, with meals on wheels and much more besides. These men and women work a minimum of 19.5 hours per week and in return they receive basic pay of €247.50, which is less than €30 a week more than the basic dole or an additional €1.50 an hour. The State's community employment scheme workers constitute a little army of low-paid workers providing valuable labour in our communities. Community employment scheme workers can, of course, receive other benefits and there can be poverty traps associated with pay increases. What plans, if any, does the Government have to improve their lot and to invest in this important social capital? When will the State move from its insulting offer of a mere 3% pay increase to community employment supervisors who have not had a pay increase for 15 years?

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