Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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348. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when community employment ex-gratia payments are to be processed; and if it will be in 2022. [60357/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Deputy will be aware that a final settlement was reached with unions at the end of 2021 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.  The 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. 

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. 

The first group of ex-gratia applications have been received - these relate to persons who retired since 2008.  In total, 630 completed applications have been received to date.  Work on processing payments is underway, with payments starting to issue from this week. The recipients will receive notification by text or e-mail when their payments are issuing.  It is my intention that all payments due will issue before the Christmas break.   

Processing and payment of claims for people who retire during 2023 and in subsequent years will continue as they retire and submit their claims.

I trust this clarifies the matter.