CE scheme supervisors deserve pensions - Cllrs

The time has come to support a call for pension entitlements for Community Employment (CE) Scheme supervisors, members of Cavan County Council were told at the December meeting of the authority.

Councillor TP O’Reilly tabled the motion seeking the support from Cavan County Council for pension entitlements for CE supervisors.He said the issue had been ongoing for “a long number of years” and that it was time it was addressed. The Fine Gael rep said that Covid restrictions had allowed the matter to be “kicked down the road again”, but said it was important to act now.

Cllr Peter McVitty (FG) said workers on Community Employment Schemes had undertaken an immeasurable amount of work and saved the local authority an untold amount of money by maintaining local infrastructure.

Cllr Paddy McDonald (SF) said: “Across the country there is hardly a community or voluntary organisation that doesn’t rely upon the services of a CE scheme.”

He said the maintenance and upkeep of greens, walkways, graveyards, streets and play areas in nearly every town and village in the county are undertaken by the CE workers.

“I have been chairperson of the local CE sponsor group in my area for the past 10 years and I see on a daily basis the great work that is being done in Bailieborough, Shercock, Tierworker, Killinkere, Knockbride, Drumgoon and Cootehill.

“There are 34 people on the CE scheme in those areas and they cover the following diverse organisations - Drumlin House, St Vincent de Paul, five GAA Clubs, a soccer club, five community centres, Tidy Towns groups, three development associations, eight churches, 12 graveyards, two community childcare centres, forest walkways, carparks and numerous town and village green areas,” Cllr McDonald said.This work is overseen by the scheme supervisor and assistant supervisor who cover a large geographical area and have to keep on top of a large volume of administration work.Cllr McDonald said the Department of Social Protection set up a forum to address this issue but claimed meetings are regularly cancelled.

“I am asking the council chamber to get behind our hard working CE supervisors and assistants and support me in calling for this injustice to be righted, so that they can continue their great work with CE scheme participants and community organisations throughout Co Cavan.”