The change to the National Minimum Wage Act to introduce the new national minimum wage of €9.15 is very welcome for employees, particularly employees of community employment, CE, schemes and Pobal, which are funded by the Tánaiste's Department. There is concern across the country that the grants have not been increased in order that they can pay the new national minimum wage of €9.15. While it is very welcome for employees and must be supported, the CEs must also be supported with additional funds to pay it. Otherwise they will be under severe financial pressure, as the Tánaiste will know from parliamentary questions I and others have asked. Many schemes seek reassurance and an answer from the Tánaiste. Will she inform them whether she will, through the Department of Social Protection, provide them with the funding to pay the national minimum wage which she has increased?

It is a matter for a parliamentary question.

My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, dealt with the matter yesterday during Question Time. The Deputy might care to examine the very detailed responses. There are just under 400 community services programme, CSP, sponsored and supported companies throughout the country and more than 60% of them pay more than the minimum wage. Yesterday, the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, said the rate of pay was approximately €11 per hour, which is significantly above the minimum wage.

Relativity will kick in.

He also said we will deal case by case over the coming weeks with CSPs which are affected. Many of the organisations raise funds through various services they provide and receive income streams from other Departments and users of the services. We will deal with it case by case over the next few weeks. I am very confident that what is a very progressive move to increase the minimum wage by 50 cent per hour will be addressed in a productive way by the CSP organisations.