Community Employment job cut shock

19 Apr 2002

Swingeing cuts to the numbers of people who can take part in Community Employment schemes this year have been greeted with alarm by the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed. The cuts go far beyond what was agreed in the current national agreement and mean that one CE worker in seven will be off the scheme by the end of the year.

The Tánaiste appears to have changed employment policy without consultation with the social partners and in breach of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF), following a reply to a Dáil question on Wednesday April 17 when she said that she expects there to be 'in the region of 24,000' people participating in CE schemes at the end of this year.

'This is far below the minimum number of CE scheme workers agreed in the PPF,' said INOU general secretary Eric Conroy. He points to page 116 of the last national agreement where it states that CE scheme participation will be reduced 'to 28,000 by the year 2003.'

'All of a sudden, An Tánaiste seems to have decided to cut 4,000 CE scheme places and reduce participation by one in seven,' Mr Conroy said. 'This is a policy change which should not have been made without consultation and which breaks the spirit of partnership.

'Terminating 4,000 part-time CE work places will have a major effect on those scores of voluntary organisations and charities throughout Ireland who rely on these workers to fulfil many vital tasks and services. This unexpected, unilateral policy change will have major consequences for the 4,000 individuals concerned, the organisations they work for and the communities in which they live and serve. We are seeking urgent clarification on the matter from An Tánaiste as soon as possible.

'This lack of consultation is completely to contrary to the spirit of social partnership.'

Contact:
Eric Conroy, general secretary 086 3374874
Cian Molloy 087 978 8718