John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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59. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which she plans to avert further strike action by community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7991/19]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding contractual, pay and pension concerns raised by community employment scheme supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7654/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 63 together.

First, I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that Community Employment supervisors provide in running Community Employment Schemes all over the country.  We simply could not sustain a lot of our local community services without their work and it is, of course, a concern to me that the Supervisors felt compelled to take the action they took yesterday.

As the Deputy is aware the action taken by  Community Employment (CE) scheme arises from a claim for the provision of a pension scheme.

Given the complex issues involved, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform established a high level community sector group as a forum to explore potential approaches.  As part of the work of this group it was established that the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and others in the Community and Voluntary sector presents very significant issues for the Exchequer, with a potential cost to the State of up to €347 million p.a.  It is important to note that this cost excludes any provision for immediate ex-gratia lump sum payment of pension as sought, which could entail a further Exchequer cost of up to €318 million.