Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse her rejection of the pension claim of community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors, which claim was supported by Labour Court recommendation LCR19293, 22 July 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35229/11]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the most recent position and the engagement to date by her with unions on introducing a pension scheme for community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors, as recommended by the Labour Court on 22 July 2008 in LCR19293; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35216/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that she and FÁS comply with Labour Court recommendation LCR19293, 22 July 2008 and negotiate an agreed pension scheme for community employment supervisors and assistance supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35228/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 130 and 133 together.

The Labour Court recommended in July 2008 that an agreed pension scheme should be introduced for community employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors, and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS. Notwithstanding the positions of the Department in rejecting that liability for these costs falls to be met from public funds, this matter has been the subject of discussions between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department, and the unions representing CE supervisors. In the event that funding was required from FÁS, the implementation of the claim is not considered sustainable in light of the current and ongoing fiscal environment and the requirement to contain and reduce public expenditure. The costs of the introduction of any scheme are likely to be of the order of €3m with retrospective costs of the order of at least €30m. The Deputy should also note that FÁS is not the employer of CE supervisors and such employees are not public servants. Neither was FÁS a party to the Labour Court dispute on this matter. The responsibilities of the sponsoring organisations and the individuals concerned must also be recognised when considering pension provision arrangements.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the publication by the Pensions Board of guidelines for revised funding deadlines for pension schemes returning to solvency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35323/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes are a very important element of pension provision in Ireland and we want them to survive for the future. While pension schemes are voluntary and a matter for negotiation between employers and employees, a strong regulatory structure is also needed to protect members. It is in that context that I recently announced changes to the funding standard as part of a package of measures including sovereign annuities.

The existing Funding Standard (amended to give credit for the purchase of sovereign annuities or bonds) will be restored for a three year period. The Funding Standard will be reformed and member' security strengthened by requiring DB pension schemes to hold a risk reserve as a protection against future volatility in the financial markets. Ultimately, schemes will need to be able to meet the requirements of the new Funding Standard in 11 years (by approximately 2022). There will also be changes to the way in which pension scheme accrued benefits are re-valued and the priority given to pensions in a wind-up situation.

The Pensions Board expect to publish updated guidance by the end of the year. The updated guidelines will take account of the changes I announced and will inform trustees of schemes which are not in compliance with the Funding Standard of the dates by which recovery plans must be submitted to the Pensions Board. As the first such date will be no earlier than 1 July 2012, I am satisfied that trustees will have substantial time to prepare their proposals.

In the meantime, recovery plans submitted to The Pensions Board by 12 noon Friday 16 December 2011 will continue to be considered by the Board under the current funding standard and guidance.