Government accept need for pay increases - Jackie Cahill

Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary Jackie Cahill has welcomed news today that the Government has accepted the need for a pay increase for supervisors and assistant supervisors within CE, TÚS and RSS. 

A pay claim has been submitted to the Workplace Relations Commission on behalf of supervisors and assistant supervisors on Community Employment Schemes, TÚS and Rural Social Scheme. 

The Department of Social Protection are not the employers of those on these programmes but instead pay a grant to the sponsor bodies that deliver and organise these services. The Department accepts the merit of a pay increase and will allocate funding from its current estimates to support any pay settlement that may be agreed. 

Commenting on the news, Deputy Cahill said, "I'm pleased to see that the Government has agreed that a pay rise is needed for these important workers in CE, TÚS and RSS. 

"These workers have been without a pay rise since 2008 and alongside my Fianna Fáil colleagues we have been working with our Government colleagues to make their voice heard. These workers do very important work in communities across the country and bring valuable skills to those gaining work experience on these schemes. 

"I look forward to the pay settlement reaching completion. The Department will then make an allocation from its current funding to facilitate the future agreement. This is an important step and I want to thank the supervisors and assistant supervisors for the important work they do in these programs," Deputy Cahill said.