Councillors back proposal for CE scheme age extension

Local councillors have unanimously backed a call for the Government to review the eligibility criteria for Community Employment (CE) schemes, including age restrictions, to allow participants who wish to remain in the programme to continue until the age of 70.

A motion, tabled by Independent councillor Valerie Byrne at a recent meeting, is seeking changes to the current rules governing participation in CE schemes. It was agreed that correspondence to that effect would be sent to Dara Colleary, the Minister for Social Protection and Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for consideration.

“This affects every town and village in Ireland, where we have a CE scheme where it’s week on, week off, and the people on that have to finish at the age of 65,” said Cllr Byrne. “So, and I do know that there is a review coming up under this scheme, what I’m asking for here is we’re losing people every month on this scheme in every town and village. So, what I’m asking is, can they fast forward that section so that people are allowed to stay on until they’re 70.” The Independent councillor asked for the motion to be sent to the Minister, and she also asked for it be sent to all other councils, because it’s a matter for everywhere.

Independent councillor Laurence Fallon seconded the motion and thought it was very worthy. “It is a huge challenge now to get enough people to carry out the work that’s needed under these schemes, it’s because of the difficulty in getting involved and because you’re being cut off at 65, and thirdly, the rate of pay is very low,” said the Independent councillor. “So, I think there are a lot of very credible people coming up to 65 now who have a long contribution they can make to the communities.”

Fine Gael councillor Ruth Conboy said she too was happy to support the motion. “Locally, I think it’s a critical group of really hard workers who are maintaining our facilities and amenities throughout the county, and as you say, throughout the country,” said the Fine Gael councillor. “I think it just needs a common-sense approach, and I think it’s really helpful as well for keeping people active in their community, so I fully support that.” Independent councillor Tom Crosby said he too would certainly support the motion and said it was a bone of contention for him.

“Over the years, this has been raised time and time again, and has fallen on deaf ears,” said the Independent councillor. “You have able-bodied people there that are willing to go out on these schemes, costing the state practically nothing.

He said that he has been involved in his local village, Tarmonbarry, and they win a national award every year, for which they are proud. “The benefits are huge, and if properly managed, it can have a huge benefit to towns and villages and in fact, I am quite sure that the county council could look at schemes that they could introduce,” said Cllr Crosby. “There are lots of work that can be done in communities, so it’s a great opportunity for the state to wake up and for our Oireachtas members to wake up. They are clearly asleep at the wheel.” Fianna Fail councillor Sean Moylan also supported and said the biggest problem with schemes is to get people to actually do them. “When you get somebody, and then for them to have to retire at 65, it’s just crazy, and the opportunity now, as people get older, and as lifespans get longer, to think of resigning someone to the couch at 65 is just absolutely crazy,” said the Fianna Fail councillor.

His party colleague, Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice said that it’s an important motion and very timely.

“I have been involved with a number of schemes, and I see the benefit of people on these schemes and the work they do around our towns and villages,” said the Fianna Fail councillor.

Independent councillor Tony Ward said he too is involved in community groups for a long number of years. “But going back about two or three years ago, I had two or three people on the scheme that were actually notified that their time was up in relation to their age profile, and their age profile wasn’t 66 or 67. They were younger than that and much younger. But I appealed their case to the department at the time and was successful,” he said.

“Every village in Ireland can do with workers on the scheme, and it would be a pity and a complete disaster if those schemes were to lose out because of the lack of personnel and staff and all you have to do is go through any village that’s involved in the tidy towns, go to any cemetery, and you’ll see the pristine condition that the cemeteries are in, so neat and so tidy, and that’s all because of people working on the scheme. Local volunteers do a huge amount of work as well.”

Fine Gael councillor Liam Callaghan said he knew that Cllr Byrne had a long conversation with Minister Calleary when he was in the county, in relation to the issues with social employment schemes.

“We know quite well the huge demand for workers, and back when the crash came in 09 and 10, the amount of people that went on those schemes really revitalised a lot of towns and villages with the amount of work that was done,” said Cllr Callaghan. “I also feel that maybe the pay should be a flat rate payment and encourage workers to stay on the scheme and maybe be willing to go on the scheme, because as people get older when they’re 40 and 50, they’d like to take it easier, and those schemes suit a lot of people, part-time workers such as farmers and members of the local community that would like to do two and a half days a week.” Independent councillor Micheal Frain said that you can’t put a price on the work of the CE schemes and he included praise for the RSS, the Rural Social Scheme.

“The RSS celebrates its 35th birthday this week, and there are celebrations going on in Four Mile House for that, but I think it is the same anomaly that goes on there when you get to 65, 66, you’re basically terminated,” he said. “You know, it’s getting people out, it’s doing things, it’s ticking a lot of boxes, including rural isolation, getting fellows out to work on schemes or work with communities, doing invaluable work. I think that that the participants shouldn’t be just rushed out the door, and I think I’d even go a little bit further than that. I think that the invaluable work that these guys do should be extended even further if it can be, if they are in good health and are willing to work for their communities. I think it could be even pushed out a little bit past 70 if they wish to do so.” Cllr Frain also asked for the Rural Social Scheme to be shared in the motion.

Independent councillor Emer Kelly too fully supported and said she would support extending it beyond 70 years of age. “I think you know if people are able to do the job and want to do it, they should be let do it,” said the Independent councillor.

Cllr Valerie Duffy said there is a wider issue involved, which is “going to kind of bite us all in the near future”.

“In relation to extending the age, I’m very supportive. I mean, we need to continuously upskill people in our community, but we also rely on CE workers to get jobs done in the local community, despite the pay being relatively low. So, we do need to encourage people to join and stay and I’ve been contacted by a number of different CE schemes, who are a little bit worried about the vacancies that they have ongoing,” said the Fine Gael councillor. “Then we have communities who don’t have CE schemes looking for these schemes because they look with envy on their neighbours who have access to a scheme and the jobs that they are getting done. So, I do think it’s going to be a longer-term issue that we’ll have to deal with.”

* Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.