Call to protect Blindcraft jobs

The Government must ensure 35 visually impaired workers in the Irish Blindcraft Factory do not become victims of health service reforms, officials were warned today.

The National Council for the Blind (NCBI) and the National League of the Blind called on Health Minister Micheal(cor) Martin to ensure workers at the Inchicore factory were not made redundant next year.

A spokeswoman said they had serious concerns that the workforce’s jobs could be sacrificed under Government plans to abolish the Board for Employment of the Blind.

They also called on the Health Department to issue a statement about the workers’ future.

Government plans only recommend the abolition of the board.

Both organisations have told the Government that does not mean the workforce employed by the board at Blindcraft, which has been making losses, should be laid off.

“We have been waiting for the Department of Health to qualify its position on it,” a spokeswoman for the NCBI said.

“It (the factory) gives the workers reason to get up each day. It gives them a chance to have a mortgage.

“It is important the structure of Blindcraft be somehow maintained or replaced so workers have a viable alternatives.

“Some people have worked there for 50 years.”

Both groups said they would work with Mr Martin to look at the Department’s need for rationalisation while ensuring the workers keep their jobs.