Call for road work scheme for jobless

By Sean O’Riordan

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

THE Taoiseach and Minister for the Environment have been urged to allow unemployed people to work on damaged rural roads in Co Cork.

Cllr Jim Daly, chairman of the council’s western division, has written to both Brian Cowen and John Gormley asking them to fund a local authority-run community work scheme in the region.

The Fine Gael councillor said he wanted Cork County Council to recruit people, in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, for a period of three months.

"They could be used to carry out immediate repairs to the water tables on all county roads," Cllr Daly said.

He added that such a scheme — which would be run on a pilot basis — would allow people to retain their benefits and earn extra income which, in turn, would provide a welcome boost for participants and the local economy alike.

"Recent erratic weather patterns have caused enormous damage to the road network across the county. While I accept that we cannot interfere with nature, we certainly can be creative in taking steps to halt the alarming rate of erosion taking place on our roads as a result of very heavy rainfall," the councillor said.

He said if the council didn’t act immediately the cost of rebuilding some roads would be enormous.

Cllr Daly estimated that if the Government set aside €500,000 for the scheme it could pay for 200 participants for a 12-week period.

Responsibility for the management of the scheme would lie with each of the 22 council area offices within the county.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, November 25, 2009