Plan would allow CES employees work past 60

Around 300 Galway employees of community employment schemes are facing the prospect of being ‘left on the scrapheap’ – despite wanting to continue working.

The problem is that they are now reaching the age of 60 – which is the cut-off point for CE Schemes.

But efforts are now underway to retain these workers, for another two or three years at least, by changing the rules.

The vast majority don’t want to revert to job seeker’s allowance and would sooner stay in employment for much the same income.

CE Schemes are hugely popular in rural areas where they carry out vital enhancement works. They are partially funded by local communities but there is a queue in local areas to acquire one.

Galway East TD Paul Connaughton has come up with a resolution to the impasse that currently exists and that would also allow participants to work into their sixties.

Deputy Connaughton is hopeful that a resolution can be found for CE Scheme workers over 60 who wish to stay on to their retirement age.

“I have met Minister Kevin Humphreys about this on a number of occasions, and I am hopeful that there will be movement on this issue in coming weeks.

“A change to the present conditions of the scheme would mean so much to CE workers throughout the county and country.

“At the moment there are hundreds of CE scheme workers in County Galway alone who are due to finish on their scheme and who are approaching 60.

“They will be forced to apply for jobseeker’s when they would prefer to continue on community employment doing valuable work for their local community until retirement,” Deputy Connaughton said.