Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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673. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current process for community supervisors applying for the ex-gratia payment; if her attention has been drawn to resource issues in the administrative process whereby her Department is unable to process any further applications until further notice; and the way that she plans to address these issues. [54949/22]

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 Forsa, 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 rather than a pension to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. On the 23rd December 2021, both unions involved confirmed acceptance of 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 - these relate to persons who retired since 2008. I can confirm that my Department is processing applications received to date. Work is ongoing on assessing the applications on hand and on processing these claims to have them ready for payment. Following Government approval last week, legislative provisions to provide for these payments are also being included in the Social Welfare Budget Bill. Therefore, work in processing payments is ongoing in a number of respects.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.