Hostel project workers seek redundancy pay rise

Employees of the Tipperary Hostel Fás project, which is the subject of a Garda investigation, are taking an employment appeals action to secure enhanced redundancy payments.

Funding for the Tipperary Hostel project — aimed at creating a centre for tourist accommodation from a famine-era workhouse in Tipperary town — was suspended in 2010 after allegations of irregularities. The company had been formed under the Fás jobs initiative in 2000 but claims emerged that instead of working solely on the hostel project, workers were instead detailed to work on other projects in the area.

Funding body Pobal provided gardaí with a file on the case in 2010, with claims that an estimated €150,000 in grants was incorrectly drawn down.