Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jan 2004

Vol. 578 No. 4

Adjournment Debate.

Job Losses.

Mr. P. Breen

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to raise the important issue of Clare local employment service which is due to cease operations on Friday next, 31 January, resulting in a loss of 16 full-time jobs. The LES has provided a very valuable service, particularly for the long-term unemployed, dependent partners, lone parents, people with disabilities and early school leavers.

I am very disappointed with the lack of response by the Minister of State's colleague, Deputy Fahey, the Minister of State with responsibility for labour affairs, to my letters on the matter. I first brought the matter to the attention of the Tánaiste before Christmas. She notified me on 23 December that she had passed on my correspondence to the Minister of State. I again sent correspondence to his office on 5 January and telephoned on 6 January, when I spoke to his private secretary. The only communication I received from him since was an acknowledgement of my letter from his private secretary on 19 January. I later got a similar letter from the Minister of State.

I understand that on 21 January, the day I got the letter from the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, he met a deputation from Clare local employment service, a meeting organised by the local Fianna Fáil Oireachtas Members. I was very disappointed that I was not notified of the meeting. On local radio the next day I heard a local Fianna Fáil Senator talk of the meeting. As a public representative for County Clare with genuine concerns for the future of this service, I am angry that I was not updated on the intervention by the Minister of State.

I raise the matter this evening because the loss of Clare local employment service will be a tremendous blow to the long-term unemployed and those others I have mentioned. Clare local employment service has 450 long-term unemployed on its register. Some 300 volunteered to go on the register in 2003. On 16 January, there were 4,700 people on the live register in County Clare. The first two weeks of January have seen a 3% increase in people on the live register in the county. That is a very worrying trend. The loss of the service, which is due to close next Friday, will create fear for the unemployed who desperately want a job in their community.

There are allegations of bullying by several parties, and allegations of confidentiality leaks by board members. Those are not reasons to close down a very valuable service. As I said, 16 staff members got notice of redundancy before Christmas, when most people are out enjoying themselves. This is not to mention the effect the closure will have on the weakest members of our society, the unemployed.

FÁS said it has no problem funding the service. I understood from the meeting with the Fianna Fáil Oireachtas Members that the Minister of State was to meet the board chairman. I do not know if that meeting took place as I have had no communication from the Minister of State's office. He might well contact FÁS in order to send someone to Clare to sort out the problem.

With the LES due to close next Friday, I ask the Minister of State not to close the door in the face of the 16 employees and the unemployed people of Clare. I ask him to intervene and appoint a mediator to talk to both parties and sort out their differences. Every dispute can be settled and this one is no different. The Tánaiste was quoted as saying that she is a big supporter of local employment services. I ask the Minister of State to contact his colleague. I am disappointed he is not here for tonight's debate. As the Minister of State with responsibility for labour affairs he has a duty to the unemployed people of Clare.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Callely)

I apologise for the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, who has asked me to come to the House on his behalf as he is unable to be here. I am happy to have the opportunity to respond to this issue. It is important that I put down some parameters so that the issue will be clear.

The board of management of Clare local employment service, LES, advised FÁS on 15 December last that it was discontinuing operations effective from 30 January 2004. I would be very happy for Deputy Breen if the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, could prevent the closure. He too would be happy.

A meeting was held in the Dáil on Wednesday, 21 January 2004, between the Minister of State and representatives of Clare local employment service staff to discuss the imminent closure of the LES. Also present were a number of other Clare public representatives including the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, a union representative, two Departmental officials and two representatives of FÁS.

Mr. P. Breen

Why was I not informed?

Mr. Callely

At that meeting the staff and union representatives expressed their concerns at the suddenness of the decision by the board to close. In their view, the LES was providing a vital and necessary service for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups in the Clare region and they stated that recent independent reports confirmed this. In addition, the union representative felt it was unacceptable that the board should take a decision to close the service without entering into discussions or consultations with the staff about their future.

The Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, pointed out to those present that while the board of Clare LES is made up of representatives from the statutory and voluntary sectors, and the operation of the service is funded by FÁS, it is nonetheless a separate legal entity and the Minister of State has no role or function in relation to the internal workings of a body of this kind. It should also be noted that the full State labour relations machinery is available to assist in any negotiations on this matter, should both sides be willing to avail of this. Perhaps all the public representatives might encourage both parties to use that machinery.

Mr. P. Breen

We were not involved with the Minister of State's talks.

Mr. Callely

The Minister of State indicated further that he was willing to talk to the chairman of the Clare LES board and to ask him if the board might reconsider its decision to close. He has since done this, but the chairman confirmed that the decision of the board to cease operations remains.

Assuming that the decision of the board would not be changed, the Minister of State agreed to talk to Roddy Molloy, the director general of FÁS, and request that FÁS immediately commence an assessment of the labour market needs of the Clare region in the context of the closure of the LES. FÁS has agreed to proceed with this assessment. As part of this exercise, FÁS will bring forward proposals on the type and level of a dedicated employment service necessary to address the particular needs of marginalized client groups in the region. The recommendations should include proposals for the delivery of the service including structures, management, staffing and other relevant requirements. Sadly, there can be no guarantees given to current staff regarding the outcome of the FÁS assessment.

While it is unfortunate that a situation such as this had to arise, I assure Deputy Breen that the needs and requirements of the particular client base being dealt with by the Clare local employment service will not suffer. I have no doubt that the outcome and proposals which will hopefully emerge from the FÁS assessment of the situation will lead to an enhanced, dedicated service for all marginalized unemployed groups in the Clare area. I hope this is helpful, and if I can offer any further assistance to Deputy Breen, I will be happy to do so.

Schools Refurbishment.

Mr. O'Connor

I thank the Chair for his courtesy. I wish to tell my good friend, the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, that I was contacted tonight by the Minister for Education and Science, which I appreciated. The Minister apologised because of his inability to attend the House because of another function arranged before this item was placed on the programme.

It is very important that I make the point with regard to this local school in Kingswood Heights in Tallaght. This is something I have been involved in since I became a Dáil Deputy.

As one of their neighbours and a local councillor for many years, I canvassed the good people of Kingswood Heights during the general election. I was in possession of information which I accepted in good faith at the time from the Department of Education and Science, namely, that work on St. Killian's national school would be carried out. I will continue to strongly campaign for and represent the parents concerned. I compliment the local school authorities, local parish and local parents' association which do tremendous work, not just in representing St. Killian's national school but also in practical ways such as fund-raising and so on. The Department should acknowledge that this work is being done yearly.

I am sincere in what I am saying about this project. I would be very grateful if the Minister of State conveyed to the Minister the strong concerns I have expressed. It is not good enough that a school which is 20 years old and caters for more than 750 young people should have to operate under the conditions that a visit to the school in Kingswood Heights will indicate.

The local Tallaght newspaper, The Echo, which represents local issues very well and gives Charlie O'Connor and other public representatives the odd mention stated on Thursday that St. Killian's national school would close for roof repairs. The article was entitled, “School forced to close for repairs before roof falls in”. It is an indictment of the system that young people who are worried about their education and being brought to school each day by their parents who are trying to do the best for them should have to deal with these issues.

The report in The Echo also pointed out that the Department of Education and Science had been considering works on the school since 1999 and the campaign had been ongoing. Over Christmas the school suffered during the bad weather. Last Tuesday there was a further leak in one classroom which led to a corridor being flooded. All of the plastic and felt tiles on the roof must now be replaced. The report also indicated that the board of management would have to spend almost €4,000 of its own funds to repair the damage, a job that will necessitate the school closing for a day.

Mr. Durkan

We will help out the Deputy.

Mr. O'Connor

The Minister of State will be aware that Dáil representatives from throughout the country have similar issues. This is an important one for my community and I will not rest until the job is done. I will continue to go to the parents and the community in Kingswood Heights and highlight their concerns. If they are unhappy with and take out their anger on me, they will be correct. This job should have been done already.

I hope I will have the full support of Fine Gael in this regard. I have not always had its support but hope I will in this case.

The Minister of State must convey to the Minister that this is a serious issue. We should not have a situation whereby 750 young people——

Mr. Durkan

It is shameful.

Mr. O'Connor

I will use the words. The Minister for Education and Science must understand the importance of this project, which I believe he does. We need to get the job done. Young people in Kingswood Heights should not have to attend the school in this condition. The staff and the community should not tolerate the situation. Something must be done. I hope action will be taken.

Mr. Callely

I am pleased my colleague and friend, Deputy O'Connor, has given me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position of the Department of Education and Science on the provision of improved accommodation at St. Killian's national school. I am aware of the enthusiasm of Deputy O'Connor in his work as a public representative in the Tallaght area. He is known to have a tremendous reputation working in a number of spheres in the area, with a particular interest in health, the environment, housing and education.

With regard to the roof damage at St. Killian's national school, a member of the Department's technical staff visited the school and reported that the damaged part of the roof had been repaired. The school has been advised to complete an application under the summer works scheme for roof replacement. This new scheme caters for works that can be planned and delivered during the summer holidays. The 2004 programme will be updated in early spring to provide details of approved projects under the scheme. Perhaps the Deputy will assist the school to avail of the scheme should it so wish.

A consultant working for the health and safety unit of the Office of Public Works has also visited the school to prepare a report on the asbestos in the roof. The consultant has advised that the air tests carried out are clear and the Office of Public Works will continue to monitor the situation.

On a large-scale refurbishment project which will involve works in both the junior and senior schools the school is listed under section 8 of the 2004 schools building programme which is published on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

Mr. Durkan

It was listed before the last general election.

Mr. Callely

The budget announcement regarding multi-annual capital envelopes will enable the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to adopt a multi-annual framework for the schools building programme which will, in turn, give greater clarity regarding projects not progressing in this year's programme. The Department will make a further announcement in that regard during the year.

I pass on to the Deputy the Minister's apologies as he was hoping to be in the Chamber.

Mr. Durkan

He was not even in the Chamber after the promises had been made.

Mr. Callely

I am pleased that he has made a personal telephone call to Deputy O'Connor. Should the Minister or I be able to assist the Deputy to resolve the difficulties at St. Killian's, we will be happy to do so. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position.