Written answers

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Department of Social Protection

Pension Provisions

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has had discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the provision of a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors; the conclusions or outcome of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20639/15]

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that Community Employment Scheme supervisors are the employees of private companies. In the circumstances, it is not possible for the State to take over responsibility for funding pension arrangements for employees of private companies, even where those companies are reliant on State funding. This position was confirmed by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform (D/PER) to this Department in March of this year.

The D/PER’s position is that private companies contracted by the State to provide a service, including those in the community sector, must manage their expenditure pressures, including labour and pension costs, from within existing funding levels.

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has given consideration to providing a pension fund for community employment scheme supervisors from within existing funds for community employment scheme supervision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20640/15]

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Department has given consideration to the provision of a pension fund for Community Employment (CE) Scheme supervisors.

The Deputy will be aware that CE supervisors are the employees of private companies. In the circumstances, it is not possible for the State to take over responsibility for funding pension arrangements for employees of private companies, even where those companies are reliant on State funding. This position was confirmed by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform to this Department in March of this year.

The provision of State funding for a CE pension scheme could result in potential claims from employees of other companies in the community sector. The State cannot afford this level of exposure to funding pension arrangements.

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