Written answers
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Department of Social Protection
Employment Support Services
9:00 pm
Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will actively support those on community employment schemes; and her views on a matter (details supplied). [7923/12]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Allowances on Community Employment schemes are paid by the sponsoring body/organisation to their Employee (Participant) in line with the Payment of Wages Act. To facilitate prompt and continuing payments my Department gives a significant financial advance to such bodies. In addition my Department processes a payment on the Thursday of every week which is credited to the sponsor's bank account on a Friday. The final payment to participants is the responsibility of the sponsoring body. The monitoring of such payments continues to be an important part of the work of Department officials.
Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will meet the cost of any redundancies which arise from the winding up or discontinuance of community employment schemes owing to the changes in their funding in budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7926/12]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A commitment has been given that no scheme will be forced to close as a result of the reduction in grants whilst the financial review is on-going. As such it is not envisaged that any redundancies will arise pending the completion of the review process. Supervisors of Community Employment schemes are employed by independent, community and voluntary organisations. As such these sponsoring groups are the employer and are bound by employment legislation and requirements, including Redundancy legislation.
The funding of redundancy is the responsibility of the employer. In situations where specific Community Employment schemes are closing the employing organisation is responsible for funding redundancy. In the event of the employer not being in a position to make such payments they then have recourse to the Redundancy Payments section within this Department as set out in legislation.
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