Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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781. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the provision of pensions for persons that are employed as supervisors on community employment schemes for an extended number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33048/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Community Employment (CE) participants and supervisors are not employed by my Department – rather they are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector. Given that situation, the State is not responsible for funding pension arrangements for such employees even where the companies in question are reliant on State funding. It is open to individuals to make provision for a pension by way of PRSA which all employers are obliged to facilitate.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the issue of CE supervisors’ pension provision is currently being examined by a Community Sector High Level Forum under the auspices and chairmanship of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department is represented on this group, as are IMPACT, SIPTU, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government and Pobal. The Forum last met on 7 April, 2017 and I understand that their work is on-going.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.