Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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291. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the need for greater pay parity and adequate pay for Tús, rural social scheme and community employment scheme employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39811/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I understand from the question raised that the deputy is referring to pay parity for Tús and RSS supervisors with CE supervisors.

My Department provides a range of supports and programmes catering for the unemployed, those most distant from the labour market and low-income farmers/ fisherpersons. These supports include programmes such as Tús, Community Employment (CE) and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). Overall, it is recognised by Government that these specific schemes are positive initiatives that enable participants to make a significant contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for prospective future employment.

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role that Tús, RSS and CE supervisors play in supporting the delivery of key services to local communities across the country and in providing valuable opportunities to participants. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is very conscious of the vital role of supervisors within these work programmes. In addition, CE provides valuable training and development opportunities to the long-term unemployed and to those furthest removed from the labour market.

The Deputy will be aware that supervisors of these work schemes are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector that receive public funding and neither the Department, nor the State, is the employer of this group of workers. The terms and conditions of employment for these employees, including remuneration, are primarily a matter for individual employers and employees as part of the employment relationship.

However, as you are aware there is a difference in the supervisor roles, specifically CE supervisors having a key role in drawing up and supervising individual participant learning and development plans. As such, it would be expected that there would be a different pay scale for the CE supervisors who carry out this additional work.

In 2023, pay increases were awarded to supervisors on all three schemes namely Tús, RSS and CE: an increase of 3% from 1st April 2023 and 2% from 1st November 2023, the funding for which was provided by my Department as the programme funder.

My Department, as funder of these schemes, is considering the complexities involved in addressing the issue of pay parity referred to in the question. It is also important to note that any changes to the fees paid or the funding model will require the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. My Department officials are continuing to engage with officials in Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to this issue. Officials in my Department also continue to work with the Implementation Bodies and staff representatives.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.