Strong interest in work scheme

UNEMPLOYED painters, carpenters, computer specialists, web designers, agricultural workers and tradesmen from the Meelick area have expressed a strong interest in participating in a new Government work scheme.
That’s according to Councillor Cathal Crowe, who said over 30 people have enquired about Tús Nua, which is designed to provide work for people who have been unemployed for over a year.
Councillor Crowe told The Clare Champion 26 people, of which 15 are unemployed, attended a meeting to set up a new development group to co-ordinate a programme of improvement works under the scheme.
At the start of the meeting, Councillor Crowe outlined the benefits for social welfare recipients who are willing to work 19.5 hours a week or 39 hours one week with the second week off.
Under the scheme, a person on unemployment assistance can increase their payment from €188 to €208 a week; this increases from €100 to €208 for a young adult between 18 and 21; from €144 to 208 for a 22 to 24-year-old and a person who doesn’t qualify for benefit because their partner is working will also receive  €208. Participants will also receive €29.80 extra for each dependant child.
Participants can also take on extra work without having an adverse effect on their payments or entitlements.
A new umbrella group consisting of representatives from all the main organisations in the parish was elected to apply to the Department of Social Welfare to officially sanction a scheme for the village. The group includes Seamus Spaight, GAA; Ken O’Brien, Parkville United FC; Paddy McCarthy, Meelick Church; Mike Crowe, Meelick Graveyard; Dom O’Farrell, Meelick Community Hall; Charleen Dillon, Meelick Community Games; Syl Dolan, Elton Court Residents’ Association; Anthony Keane, Kylevoher Residents’ Association and Brian O’Donnell, Ballycannon Heights.
According to Councillor Crowe, residents who don’t belong to any particular organisation are also welcome to join the committee.
Councillor Crowe was elected as development committee chairman, the new secretary is Emer O’Connor, while the joint treasurers are Mandy Davis and Pete Fitzgerald.
Suggested improvement works include a major clean-up of the crossroads in the parish, planting flower beds at a number of locations, the documentation of old graves, improvement works to the boundary wall of Moneen cemetery; a weekly tidy-up of the church, painting the community hall and a new website and lining of the pitch for Parkville United.
While the labour for these projects, if approved, will be free, each group will have to provide the materials or the necessary finance. Meelick GAA has already made a separate but complementary application to the scheme for the appointment of one hurling and football coach for underage teams and the local national school.
Councillor Crowe stressed the purpose of the scheme is not to detract from efforts of community groups but to enhance it by facilitating more work.
“Meelick has never had a FÁS scheme in the past. I believe this scheme will provide meaningful work. It has generated huge interest from the community and the unemployed.
“The role of the committee is to co-ordinate the scheme. We will not be in charge of the participants, who will come under the management of the Department of Social Welfare. We are going to aim high. We may not get all the projects completed but a lot of improvement works should be completed,” he said.