163 Deputy George Lee asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the validation process that was undertaken to pay phase three and four of the Towards 2016 pay agreement from 7 September 2009 to job initiative team leaders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2981/10]

Labour Court Recommendation 18921 recommended that Job Initiative Team Leaders should receive the appropriate Benchmarking payments under similar terms as applied to the Community Employment Supervisors. A validation process was then undertaken to pay Phases 3 and 4 of the Towards 2016 pay agreement to Job Initiative Team Leaders. This was essentially the same validation process used to award Community Employment Supervisors their Towards 2016 Phases 3 & 4 increases. It encompassed cooperation with the principles concerning Public Service modernisation and flexibility; industrial relations stability; cooperation with the roll-out of the FÁS Community Services Management (CSM); implementation of Quality Assurance policies and procedures; and cooperation with ongoing operational and technological change on Schemes.