Leitrim Councillor calls for Criteria around CE Schemes to be changed

There are genuine concerns that the future of many Community employment schemes are being placed at risk over the shortage of workers that are available or meet the criteria to work on them. The fact that participants on such schemes have no option other than to retire at the age of 66 is also thought to be another contributing factor to the number of reduced workers.  Leitrim Sinn Fein Councillor Padraig Fallon has classed the situation where workers have to retire at 66 an as ‘anomaly’ citing examples how civil servants and workers in the private sector now have the option to work up to at lease 70 if they so wish. Cllr. Fallon says many workers on these schemes are single males and once their involvement is terminated, their only contact with society also disappears. The Sinn Fein Councillor says concessions should be made to give workers a greater choice when they have to retire.  He says the level of pay for workers also needs to be increased.