Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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527. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, adjudication (details supplied); and if she will reply in the context of its impact on discussions within her Department in relation to pension provision for community employment supervisors. [46082/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Community Employment Scheme (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.

The programme is delivered through independent Community Employment Sponsoring Bodies.  The contract agreement between the Department and the Community Employment Sponsoring Body establishes their role as an independent contractor, responsible for or all purposes and all persons recruited by them.

CE Supervisors have always been employees of Community Employment Sponsoring Bodies which operate in the community and voluntary sector.  The Community Employment Sponsoring Body receives public funding.

The Department received the Adjudication Officer’s Decision on Monday 4^thNovember.  It is reviewing the Decision at present and is seeking legal advice on it.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is engaging with representatives of CE supervisors to discuss issues arising following the 2008 Labour Court Recommendation.  The details of the discussions have remained confidential while the engagement is ongoing and I would ask Deputies to respect these wishes and allow the talks to continue free from speculation which might prove unhelpful.