Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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700. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the negotiations taking place with representatives of community employment supervisors in regard to pension rights that may resolve the issues before strike action occurs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6296/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware Community employment (CE) scheme supervisors are planning to withdraw their labour on 18th February for one day. I understand that this arises due to a claim by CE supervisors and assistant supervisors, through their union representatives, for the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme.

I would like to clarify that CE supervisors are, or were employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector that receive state funding. They are not employees of my Department or public servants and it continues to be the position that it is not for the State to provide funding for such pension scheme provision.

However, a detailed scoping exercise was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2017 in order to comprehensively examine and assess the full potential implications of providing such a pension scheme. This exercise clearly highlighted that the provision of any such pension scheme presents very significant issues for the Exchequer, with a potential cost to the State of between €188 million per annum and €347m depending on the size of the sector, which is difficult to ascertain.

It is important to note that this cost excludes any provision for immediate ex-gratia lump sum payment of pension as sought, which could, depending on the size of the sector, entail a further Exchequer cost of up to €318 million.

Employers, including CE sponsoring organisations, are legally obliged to offer access to at least one Standard Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) under the Pension (Amendment) Act 2002.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.