John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1113. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the position of assistant supervisor will be funded to manage the meals on wheels project operated by a community employment scheme (details supplied); if she will continue the arrangement authorised and entered into in 2002 when the first assistant supervisor was appointed to the project which continued up to February 2020 when the person retired; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE also provides funding for the initiative and without the assistant supervisor position being filled as a matter of urgency, the future of the project will come into question. [9063/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Community Employment (CE) sponsor groups provide a valuable and dedicated service in running CE schemes.  The many services provided by CE schemes both in rural and urban areas are extremely valuable to every town and village in the country. 

Funding for CE supervision on a CE scheme is based on the number of CE participants.  CE schemes with 11 to 25 CE participants receive funding for a CE supervisor.  Where a CE Scheme has 26 or more CE participants, funding for an additional CE assistant supervisor can also be provided by the Department. 

The CE scheme in question - Clogh/Muckalee - has 21 CE participants at present and is therefore being funded to employ a CE supervisor.  Officials from my Department are in contact with CE scheme sponsor and will assist them in trying to resolve the issues raised, including communicating with the HSE to try to establish a viable solution.