Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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601. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the community employment supervisors pension claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47159/19]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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602. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Labour Court recommendation 11 years ago for an agreed pension for community employment supervisors will be put in place (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47164/19]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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609. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made to introduce an agreed pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47271/19]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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622. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason bring proposals were not brought forward as promised to address the issues which had led to community employment supervisors planning to take industrial action; and her views on the suspended dispute. [47430/19]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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626. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of discussions on pension entitlements for community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47461/19]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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627. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress she has made on ensuring that community employment supervisors are entitled to an occupational pension in line with the recommendation of the Labour Court in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47509/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 601, 602, 606, 609, 622, 626 and 627 together.

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 all purposes and all persons recruited by them

CE Supervisors are not employed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.  CE Supervisors have always been employees of Community Employment Sponsoring Bodies which operate in the community and voluntary sector. 

I am very aware of the valuable and dedicated service that Community Employment (CE) sponsor organisations provide in running CE Schemes across the country. CE supervisors, as employees of these organisations, are an integral part of that good work.

In relation to the Workplace Relations Commission judgement, the Department received the Adjudication Officer’s decision on Monday 4^thNovember.  My Department is reviewing the decision at present and has sought legal advice on it.

In relation to the 2008 Labour Court Recommendation, my Department officials have undertaken a series of meetings with representatives of CE supervisors to consider the issues arising from that decision.  My Department has not reneged on its commitments and my Department officials continue to engage with the relevant union representatives.  However, the specific details of these ongoing discussions will remain confidential while the process is on-going and I would ask Deputies to respect these wishes and allow the talks to continue free from speculation.