Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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425. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a former community employment, CE, supervisor (details supplied) who had to retire early on health grounds and whose sole income now is a disability payment is being advised that they will have to wait indefinitely for their entitled ex gratia payment as a retired CE supervisor and if this payment will be prioritised. [59191/22]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will request her officials to process the ex gratia payment for a retired CE supervisor (details supplied) who had to take early retirement on health grounds. [59481/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 425, 437 and 460 together.

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.

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. Some 2,500 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008 will benefit at an estimated total cost of over €24 million.

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, including those who retired early on medical grounds. Following Government approval earlier this month, legislative provisions to provide for these payments are being included in the Social Welfare Budget Bill, which will also, once enacted, facilitate the payment of processed applications.

The person concerned submitted an application for the ex-gratia payment in October. This application has been processed and she has been advised of the details of the payment. It is my intention that these payments will issue before the Christmas break, subject to the safe passage of the required legislation. A notification will issue to her as soon as the payment is processed and is ready to issue.

I trust this clarifies the matters.