Opposition politicians voice anger over Jobs Club closure

OPPOSITION politicians have reacted with anger to the news that the Carrick-on-Suir Jobs Club in south Tipperary is to close next month.

The Jobs Club was granted a reprieve earlier this year until an alternative service could be provided by FÁS under the Long Term Training Initiative.

However, according to Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes, now there will be no Jobs Club and no Long Term Training Initiative from next month.

“This is just another broken promise from a below-par Fianna Fáil government,” said Deputy Hayes. “All we have seen after this Budget is a series of unfair, ill-considered cuts. Treating Carrick-on-Suir in this way is unfair, given its high level of unemployment, and its long-established historic need for assistance in job creation.”

The Fine Gael TD said that getting a commitment in July from FÁS and the government on keeping the Jobs Club open had taken months of work and lobbying from all concerned.

“I am most disappointed with this reversal,” he said.

He called on the government to reverse the decision and for Fianna Fáil TDs to support his call.

Labour Party Senator Phil Prendergast described the closure — due to take effect on November 21 — as “another terrible blow for the people of the south-east” following last week’s job cuts announcement at Waterford Crystal.

“Carrick on Suir is losing a service that is needed now more than ever and FÁS have a moral responsibility to the people of this area to not only continue this much-needed service, but to also offer realistic support for this service,” said Senator Prendergast.

FÁS said yesterday that the Jobs Club in Carrick had fallen “significantly short” in 2006 and 2007 of its target of seeing between 120 and 140 people.

Representatives of FÁS met with directors of the club on a number of occasions since last January and, at the most recent meeting, “the directors informed FÁS that there is nothing they can do to increase the number of people participating on the formal Job Club sessions from the current average of around 70 participants per year”, said a FÁS statement.

The Local Employment Service which operates from the same building in the town has seen 750 people since January 1, according to FÁS.

While funding for the club will cease on November 21, FÁS says it will continue to run three Community Employment projects in Carrick, with 62 places, along with a Job Initiative Programme with five places and the Local Employment Service. A Core Employment Skills programme will start in November.

“FÁS has been and remains totally committed to Carrick-on-Suir and will continue to work to ensure that interventions and supports are the most appropriate ones.”