Hundreds turn out to demand continuation of local employment schemes
THE Government has been asked this week to ‘save’ two mainly rural based employment schemes which have been the lifeblood of villages and communities across the West of Ireland for the past two decades.
Over 400 people packed into the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry on Monday night to voice their concerns over what has been described as the ‘slow strangulation’ of both the Rural Social (RSS) and Tús employment schemes.
The meeting – attended by Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte as well as TDs Ciaran Cannon, Michael Fitzmaurice, Clare Kerrane – heard speaker after speaker detail how the schemes were being starved of resources and personnel to fill vacant positions.
As well as TDs, senators and councillors, the GAA, IFA and community organisations spoke of the work being done in the schemes for the betterment of villages, sports clubs, the elderly, charities and for those with disabilities.
RSS and Tús Co-ordinator Seán Broderick also made an emotional contribution about people involved in the scheme, who had continued to do their work in the community during the height of the Covid pandemic.
“These people got very little recognition for their contribution to their communities during the pandemic, where at a personal risk to themselves and their families, they kept many services going, like the meals-on-wheels,” said Seán Broderick.
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