Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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631. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54156/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Work Schemes such as Community Employment (CE) are positive initiatives that enable long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst upskilling themselves for prospective future employment. However, it is important to note that participation on these schemes is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market. Participation limits are set on these schemes to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons.

As a result of the COVID-19 emergency and the related public health restrictions, including the recruitment of new CE participants, the Department supported schemes throughout this period by extending participant’s contracts on a number of occasions up until April of this year. Also, to assist with the transition from COVID emergency supports over the next period, participants, including those with extended contracts, were not required to leave CE, where a suitable replacement had not yet been referred to the scheme. This transitionary provision has supported schemes to retain services with the higher-than-normal turnover of participants in 2022. Any extension under this provision must be approved in advance by officials from the Department.

The person concerned commenced CE on 30/5/2016. Following extensions due to the Covid-19 emergency, his contract was due to expire on 28/10/2022, when he will have completed 6 years and 20 weeks on CE, which is in excess of the overall lifetime limit of 6 years. As there have been 3 new referrals to his position, from the current cohort of long term unemployed his contract cannot be extended further - without impacting on an opportunity for new entrants to join CE. The Department's activation service will work with the person to ensure that the benefits and experience he received during his time on CE are maximised. This process will help identify employment opportunities in the open labour market and offer support to him in overcoming any barriers to employment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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632. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a decision for their community employment ex-gratia payment for supervisors' application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54172/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors sought for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Fórsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.

Following an agreement between the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Social Protection, a final settlement was reached with unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors at the end of 2021. This settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. This settlement which will benefit approximately 2,500 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008. It is estimated to have a total cost of over €24 million.

Generally, under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratia payment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008. People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age are now able to apply for this payment.

Over the past number of months, an administrative and ICT system to accept applications and process payments was put in place within the Department of Social Protection. The first group of ex-gratia applications have been received and are being processed - these relate to persons who retired since 2008. Following Government approval last week, legislative provisions to provide for these payments are also now being included in the Social Welfare Budget Bill which will also facilitate payments.

A notification will issue to recipients as soon as the payments are ready to issue.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.