Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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430. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to reports that CE supervisors currently receive a pay rate of €11.01 per hour, which is lower than that received by CE scheme participants (details supplied); if she will provide more funding for the pay of CE supervisors to their employing groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57473/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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We are all very conscious of the important role that Community Employment (CE) and other programmes play in our communities. In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are long term unemployed, schemes such as CE also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities.

The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring authorities who are the employers of CE supervisors, CE assistant supervisors and CE participants. CE sponsoring authorities receive state funding to cover the cost of remuneration, training and material costs from the department. Therefore, any pay increases could increase the cost to the state of running CE schemes.

However, it should be noted that the pay rates for CE supervisors and participants are not comparable for a number of reasons. CE participants' pay rates are based on family circumstances and not an hourly rate.

CE participants work an average of 19.5 hours per week. The rate of payment relates to the customer’s underlying Jobseeker’s Allowance rate plus an additional €22.50 per week, with a minimum payment of €230.50 per week. Where relevant, participants receive increases in respect of a qualified adult and child dependents and their rate can be reduced where means apply.

That said, the Department of Social Protection, as the funder of CE schemes, has received correspondence from Fórsa and SIPTU seeking a pay increase for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. Any increase in pay rates that would potentially increase the overall cost to the state of funding schemes, or state funded activities in the wider community and voluntary sector, must take into consideration the potential cost to the exchequer. Given these budgetary implications, this correspondence has been forwarded to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for their consideration.

The Department is continuing to follow-up on this issue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and will also continue discussions with the Trade Unions concerned.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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431. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to reports that RSS and Tús scheme supervisors currently receive a pay rate of €11.01 per hour, which is lower than that received by scheme participants (details supplied); if she will provide more funding for the pay of RSS and Tús supervisors to their employing groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57474/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Rural Social Scheme ( RSS) and Tús are positive initiatives that enables both low-income farmers and fishers and the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst at the same time up-skilling and enhancing their employability prospects. I am fully committed to the future of these programmes and will continue to support and improve both programmes for the benefit of the community whilst also providing much needed local employment.

Both programmes are delivered through a number of independent Local Development Companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta, collectively known as Implementing Bodies (IB’s), who are the legal employers of RSS and Tús supervisors.

The Deputy states that Tús and RSS supervisors have not had a pay increase since 2008. However, following discussions in 2017 and as part of a productivity agreement, a 5 point incremental pay scale was introduced for these supervisors.

The maximum point on the 2017 pay scale is 13% higher than the previous pay rate for supervisors. Based on a 39 hour week that Tús and RSS supervisors work, the lowest point on the current payscale equates to an hourly rate of €15.30.

It should be noted that the pay rates for Tús and RSS supervisors and participants are not comparable for a number of reasons. Tús and RSS participants' pay rates are based on family circumstances and not an hourly rate.

Tús and RSS participants work an average of 19.5 hours per week. The rate of payment relates to the customer’s underlying Jobseeker’s Allowance rate plus an additional €22.50 per week, with a minimum payment of €230.50 per week. Where relevant, participants receive increases in respect of a qualified adult and child dependents and their rate can be reduced where means apply.

That said, the Department of Social Protection, as the funder of both the RSS and the Tús scheme, has received correspondence from SIPTU seeking a pay increase for RSS and Tús supervisors. Officials from my Department recently met with union representatives where issues relating to pay and the working conditions of RSS and Tús supervisors were discussed. A further meeting has been scheduled and the Department will continue to liaise with union representatives on these matters. Any increase in pay rates that would potentially increase the overall cost to the state of funding schemes, or state funded activities in the wider community and voluntary sector, must take into consideration the potential cost to the exchequer. Given these budgetary implications, this correspondence has been forwarded to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for their consideration.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.