A high level ICTU delegation will meet with the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, at 4.00 p.m. today (17th January) in Dáil Eireann to discuss the developing crisis in the Community Sector and the government’s proposed review of Community Employment (CE) schemes funding.
The Congress delegation will be led by ICTU General Secretary, David Begg, and will include SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor, and IMPACT national secretary Matt Staunton.
ICTU Community Sector Committee chairman, David Connolly, and Chairman of the SIPTU CE Supervisors Union Committee, Seamus Briscoe, will also be among those attending the talks.
David Connolly said; “This meeting follows a campaign by trade unionists to highlight the severe adverse impact communities will suffer if the proposed cut-backs to the funding of CE schemes funding in the recent budget are not reversed.”
The ICTU delegation will be advising Minister Burton that the full funds necessary to cover CE schemes existing overheads should be made available in order to curtail an immediate crisis which has led to some essential projects ceasing operation. All training programmes should also be maintained until the conclusion of the Government’s review of the CE sector which is to be completed within three months.”
“The ICTU delegation will be seeking the involvement of trade unions in setting the proposed review’s terms of reference and monitoring its outcomes in order to ensure that full account is taken of the beneficial effect of CE schemes within communities as well as their impact on the labour market.”
No comments:
Post a Comment