High Level Working Group - CE Scheme claim for Pension/ex gratia payment
Meeting on Monday, 11 April 2016 at 2pm
Present: Oonagh Buckley, Chairperson, Assistant Secretary, D/PER
Colin Menton, D/PER
Fiachra Kennedy, D/PER
Rita Meehan, D/PER
Stephen Owens, D/PER
Ger McCarthy, D/PER
Teresa Collins Hinchy, SIPTU
Eddie Mullins, SIPTU
John King, SIPTU
Paddy Quinn, IMPACT
Geraldine O’Brien, IMPACT
Paul Skinnader, Pobail
Aongus Horgan, D/SP
Deirdre Shanley, D/SP
Nora Durcan, D/SP
Apologies:Clodagh McDonnell,D/ECLG
At the outset of the meeting the Chairperson, Oonagh Buckley welcomed everyone and advised those present that she was a designated Public Official under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 and proposed the transparency code would apply to the meeting with minutes being published as a matter of course.
- Minutes of Meeting of 27 November 2015
The Minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
- Draft Terms of Reference (ToR)
Ms Buckley advised the group that the management side had indicated that the ToR may need to include other relevant Departments e.g. D/Health which was noted by all present.
3. PRSA and employers obligations
Ms Meehan addressed the group in respect of Employers' obligations to provide access to Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs).
4. Status of data gathering exercise (and identification of further data requirements)
Ms Buckley confirmed that at the end of the first meeting, it was agreed to commence the scoping exercise with a data gathering undertaking to include details of numbers involved, age profile, costs and salary. Figures were received on staff numbers and salary costs from the Department of Social Protection on Community Employment Supervisors, Job Initiative Team Leaders, Tús and Rural Social Scheme Supervisors. This included information on CE Supervisors due to retire by 2020. (Statistics are to be provided for the Local Employment Service /JobClub employees in due course). The Department of the Environment provided information in respect of the Local Government Groups (LAGs) and Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
Ms Buckley indicated that the fact gathering exercise would continue. She advised those present of the requirement to be in a position to brief the Minister in due course on the policy context and wider cost implications throughout the broader community/voluntary sector of any proposals relating to the CE Supervisors/assistant supervisors.
5. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 8 June 2016.
6. AOB
The union side indicated that they wanted the right to revisit the issue of payments for people who have already retired. Following some discussion, it was the position of D/PER that the focus of future discussions would be in respect of those who are currently employed on CE Schemes.