Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for raising this matter. I apologise that the line Minister cannot be present to deal with it.

The community sector high-level forum was reconvened in 2015 by the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, 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.

In considering the particular matter referred to, regard must be had to the costs and precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created. At the most recent forum meeting in April, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform outlined its intention to conduct a detailed scoping exercise in order to comprehensively examine and assess the full potential implications of the issues under consideration. This exercise is currently being progressed and will be completed shortly. The next meeting of the high-level forum will take place on 2 November and the results of the scoping exercise will be made available to its members on that date.

It continues to be the position that State organisations are not the employer of the particular employees concerned and that it is not possible for it to provide funding for such a scheme. The employees are, or were, employed by private companies, notwithstanding the fact that the companies concerned are, or were, reliant on State funding. In considering the matter, regard must be had to costs and the precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created in view of the fact that the individuals employed in that sector are not employed by the State, even if many of the services they provide are funded by the State and are certainly essential because we can all see the benefits of the great work they do. There is, however, a desire to discuss the matter and arrive at an outcome.