AT ITS monthly meeting Sligo County Council unanimously adopted a motion tabled by Cllr Declan Bree calling on the government to reverse its proposed cuts in Community Employment Schemes

Proposing the motion Cllr Bree said "As part of the recent Budget Minister Joan Burton cut the training and materials grant for Community Employment Schemes from €1,500 to €500 per participant.
 
"The cuts not only limits training opportunities for community employment workers, but puts the future of schemes in jeopardy as they struggle to pay for rent, insurance, heating, electricity and basic materials.

"Additional payments for workers on social welfare including single parents and those in receipt of disability were also targeted by Minister Burton.

"Community Employment schemes provide a very important and valued contribution to social employment and to training for unemployed people.  In addition many schemes provide vital community services.   In areas of disadvantage, community employment is often the only access people have to work, training and education

"Today 2,463 Community Employment Scheme workers are employed in health and social services, 3,592 work in environmental schemes, 14,000 work in the community sector with another 272 in support tourism.

"In essence Community Employment has effectively become the labour force for the community and voluntary sectors.

"In this context the decision of Labour and Fine Gael, to undermine and dismantle the Community Employment Schemes must be opposed and the savage cutbacks reversed.

"I therefore propose the following motion:'Recognising the significant benefits of Community Employment Schemes to local communities and to CE participants, this Council calls on Minister Joan Burton and the Government to immediately reverse the proposed cuts in Community Employment Schemes.'”