Strokestown Area Independent Cllr Tom Crosby is calling on the Government to immediately lift the embargo on employment for FAS Schemes and Rural Social Schemes. Cllr Crosby states that the present embargo on these schemes is to say the very least disgraceful and a total mismanagement of State Funds in light of the serious lack of employment affecting nearly household throughout County Roscommon and our Country.
Employees working on these schemes contribute enormously to work in communities such as Tidy Towns Committees, Community Developments Association, Cemetery Committees, Childcare Facilities, and many other community projects. The workers who participate in such schemes do so in the full knowledge that they are fully entitled to Social Welfare Benefits which are on average only €20 to €30 per week less than they would get working on both FAS and Rural Social Schemes. These workers would much prefer to be out working contributing to their communities even though they are only marginally better off by doing so.
Cllr Crosby who is involved in FAS and Rural Social Scheme in his local area of Tarmonbarry and Rooskey is fully aware of the enormous benefits for communities who organise these schemes for their areas he is also aware of the number of workers who approach him on a regular basis seeking employment on either scheme despite the fact that they are receiving almost as much from the State on a weekly basis at home.
Cllr Crosby states that this highlights the total mismanagement of State funds when all that is necessary for the Government to do is to transfer funds from Social Welfare to the relevant departments which fund the schemes. He is also very aware that there area a number of Villages and Towns throughout his electoral area of Strokestown such as the town of Strokestown, Ballyleague, Tulsk and other Parish communities and committees who are unable to avail of workers on the schemes due to the embargo. Cllr Crosby states these schemes could be extended to cover many essential works such as Litter Control throughout the County, Hedge Cutting, opening Water Tables and many other essential works that Local Authorities and other State Agencies can not carry out due to their budgetary constraints
Cllr Crosby is writing to the relevant Minister and Department to lift this embargo immediately and put people back to work, working for the benefit of their own communities with little or no additional cost to the tax payer.